Linas Jegelevičius
Following the detection of an outbreak of avian (bird) influenza A(H5N1) virus among laying hens at UAB “Vilkyčių paukštynas” in the Šilutė district, western Lithuania, not only poultry farmers but also public health authorities and the population are increasingly concerned.
However, for now, it seems the situation is under control.
“As of today, we have registered only that outbreak in the Šilutė district and found a dead swan in southern Lithuania. Tests showed it was also infected with the bird influenza virus. In all, 46 thousand laying hens have been culled in the Vilkyčiai farm,” Gytis Kauzonas, the Director of the Lithuanian Poultry Association (LPA), told BNN.
The Mayor of Šilutė district, Vytautas Laurinaitis, told LRT that, following a meeting of the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC), response measures were taken, including the closure of access roads to the location. According to the mayor, there were 250 000 egg-laying hens in the farm.
A 10km protection and surveillance zone has been established around the infected farm in Šilutė district.
Within this zone, all poultry farms are prohibited from transporting live birds, carcasses, or poultry products to other locations without special permission from the VMVT Klaipėda regional office.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states on its website that whenever avian influenza viruses circulate in poultry, there is a risk of sporadic infections and small clusters of human cases due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments.
Lithuania’s National Public Health Center, under the Ministry of Health, has announced that the containment of the dangerous avian influenza virus at a laying hen farm in Šilutė district has been completed.
The farm will only be allowed to resume operations after thorough disinfection, cleaning, and washing procedures, which may take up to a month. The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) will lift restrictions only after confirming that no traces of the virus remain.
At present, monitoring of other poultry farms in contact with the affected facility is ongoing, and so far, there are no new suspicions of virus spread.
According to Lithuania’s Chief Veterinarian, Vaidotas Kiudulas, initial assessments suggest that the virus may have entered the farm through trade-related movements from already infected areas in Poland, where 14 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks have been confirmed to date.
The most recent outbreaks were detected in the Puławy, Tarnowskie Góry, Kluczbork, Lubliniec, and Góra regions. The affected farms were isolated, and infected birds and products were destroyed.
“Indeed, the situation in Poland is very alarming. It registers bird flu cases daily, and they get closer to our common border,” G. Kauzonas emphasized to BNN.
Besides, he says, Newcastle Disease, a highly contagious viral infection affecting birds, has recently re-emerged in Poland after nearly five decades of absence.
The initial outbreak was confirmed in July 2023 on a commercial farm in the Białystok district of the Podlaskie province, which housed approximately 43 410 hens intended for slaughter. Following this, three additional outbreaks were identified in nearby farms.
In late 2024, the disease resurfaced with increased severity. Between the 13th and 22nd of December 2024, five new outbreaks were reported in the Podlaskie and Mazowieckie provinces. The affected farms varied in size, with the largest housing up to 447 218 slaughter hens. In total, these outbreaks necessitated the culling of over 900 000 birds to contain the virus’s spread.
“It is considered to be even more devastating for poultry than the A(H5N1) virus,” the association head said.
Lithuanian poultry farmers are wary of the situation and hope it will not impact them.
“Of course, the news about the Šilutė farm is very alarming, and all poultry farmers, including me, are taking precautionary measures. Let’s knock on wood – so far, our farm is not affected,” Gintas Cimakauskas, a poultry farmer, told BNN.
Agreeing, Mindaugas Kavaliauskas, head of the agricultural company “Ginkūnų paukštynas,” which also keeps laying hens, stated that poultry farmers are currently worried.
If a disaster were to occur without state support, recovering would be an extremely difficult task, he said.
“Unfortunately, losses are inevitable. Insurers avoid providing coverage for cases like bird flu. Therefore, the Vilkyčiai farm can expect some compensation from the Agriculture Ministry,” G. Kauzonas says.
However, the Ministry of Agriculture has said it provides up to 100% compensation for losses incurred by livestock owners who properly follow biosecurity measures. Compensation applies in cases of outbreaks of highly infectious animal diseases, including avian flu.
According to G. Kauzonas, there are around one hundred poultry farms in Lithuania.
Lithuania cannot ban the import of poultry and poultry-related products from an EU country where bird flu has been detected. However, trade restrictions apply only to specific zones within EU states affected by bird flu.
As a result, poultry farmers must take personal responsibility for ensuring safety measures. Both Polish and Lithuanian regulatory authorities issue transport permits only for poultry from farms outside the affected areas.
“Trade relations between Lithuania and Poland are strong, making Poland’s rapidly spreading and economically damaging bird flu outbreaks a significant threat to Lithuania’s poultry industry. Therefore, both businesses and private individuals trading with Poland should carefully evaluate the risks of importing poultry or products potentially carrying the virus. Visits to Polish poultry farms should also be reconsidered,” Saulius Jasius, Director of the Department of Sustainable Agricultural Production and Food Industry at the Ministry of Agriculture (ŽŪM), said in a press release.
The Ministry of Agriculture (ŽŪM) urges poultry keepers to remain alert, assess potential risks, and carefully consider whether it is wise to import poultry from Poland.
It is also advised to refrain from visiting farms in that country temporarily.
Outbreaks of infectious diseases severely impact farms, causing significant losses, increasing tension across the sector, and imposing financial burdens on the state. Therefore, it is crucial to follow all possible safety measures and recommendations.
Amid the avian flu outbreak, some cautioned that it could push the prices of hen eggs up, but G. Kauzonas disagrees.
“The outbreak was local. Besides, prices are more affected by the new, more hen-friendly, and sustainable farming practices – the sector is getting rid of the use of cages,” G. Kauzonas said.
The European Union (EU) has proposed a ban on the use of cages in animal farming and is set to implement a complete ban on cages by 2027.
According to the WHO, from the 1st of January 2003, to the 12th of December 2024, a total of 261 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have been reported from five countries within the Western Pacific Region. Of these cases, 142 were fatal, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 54%, the WHO said.