Poland regained the status of a country officially free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in early August, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report.

In 2023, 48 commercial poultry farms and 12 backyard farms were infected with HPAI, located in nine Polish provinces. HPAI outbreaks led to culling of over one million birds. 

Slaughter duck farms and slaughter turkey farms were the most impacted, accounting for almost 70% of HPAI-culled birds. HPAI-free status will allow Poland to resume exports of poultry meat to non-European markets, which were restricted when the disease was present in the country.

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) published Poland’s self-declaration on regaining the status of a country free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on August 2, 2023. In accordance with Article 10.4.6 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, if an HPAI infection in poultry occurs in a country previously free of avian influenza, recovery of free status may take place 28 days after the stamping-out policy is applied (including culling the birds and carrying out cleaning and disinfection). 

The activities related to the eradication of the disease in the last HPAI outbreak in poultry in Poland were completed on July 4, 2023. Therefore, the period of 28 days from the date of final disinfection expired on August 2, 2023, which allowed for submitting a declaration to WOAH.

In 2023, 60 HPAI outbreaks occurred on Polish poultry farms, including 48 commercial poultry farms and 12 backyard farms. The infected farms were located in nine Polish provinces, including 31 farms in western Wielkopolskie province.