Slovakia - High pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry 2025-2026

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https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6874

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https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6874

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https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6916

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wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7250

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Epidemiological situation of HPAI H5N1 in Slovakia 5.2.2026

Publication date:February 5, 2026

On 04.02.2026 in the afternoon, the National Reference Laboratory confirmed a positive result of samples tested for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the subtype H5N1. The outbreak was confirmed in an approved commercial poultry farm within the jurisdiction of the RVPS Komárno.
The suspicion of infection was expressed based on the reported death of over 400 turkeys in one day.

The farm originally housed a total of 36,000 poultry (domestic turkeys, domestic chickens). Mortality in the first infected turkey house has already reached 100% (7,000 turkeys dead as of February 5).

The operator was ordered to take veterinary measures to control animal diseases.

All movements on the farm are stopped from 3.2.2026.

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the equipment and the depopulation unit from the ŠVPS SR are being moved to the outbreak. The start of the depopulation of the farm is planned for February 6, 2026, and it is estimated that the depopulation work will be completed within 2-3 days.

A restriction zone has been defined, consisting of a protection zone (within a radius of at least 3 km from the outbreak) and a surveillance zone (within a radius of at least 10 km from the outbreak).

Veterinary measures to control animal diseases were ordered for municipalities, breeders and hunting associations within the zones.

https://svps.sk/epizootologicka-situacia-hpai-h5n1-v-sr-5-2-2026/

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They pull thousands of eggs from the chains: be careful, if you have them at home, don't eat them and return them to the store!

Ivana Sladkovská | section: What's going on | 10/02/2026

The Tesco, Billa and Metro chains are withdrawing eggs from the supplier OVOGAL FARM after confirming the occurrence of bird flu on a farm in the Komárno district. The State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic calls on consumers not to consume and to return eggs with a specific label and expiration date.

Retail chains are mass withdrawing Slovak eggs from the market, which come from a producer on whose farm the occurrence of the bird flu virus has been confirmed. If you have these eggs at home, it is recommended not to consume them and return them to the store.

Watch out for "infected" eggs

The Tesco, Billa and Metro chains proceeded to urgently withdraw eggs from sale after the occurrence of bird flu was confirmed in the south of Slovakia on one of the farms of the well-known Slovak producer OVOGAL FARM. The State Veterinary and Food Administration (ŠVPS) of the Slovak Republic calls for the same step , asking consumers to return eggs from specific farms to sellers. The outbreak of the virus was confirmed at the Čalovec farm in Komárno district, where thousands of poultry died within a few days.

Tesco has announced the withdrawal of the product Tesco Free Range ML 10 pcs , supplied by the OVOGAL FARM cooperative. The chain's website states that the decision was taken based on a veterinary measure that came into effect after the outbreak of avian influenza was confirmed. These are eggs with EAN code 5059944694818 and a minimum shelf life date of February 11, 2026. The sorting plant has the marking SK NZ 1/6. Customers who bought these eggs can return them to any Tesco store and receive a full refund, the chain said: "If you purchased these products in our retail network in any of our stores, you can return it at the information or customer service center and you will be refunded the value of the product.

The Billa chain decided to do the same and pulled Ovogal free-range eggs 10/ML from the shelves , which have different best-before dates from February 14 to February 28, 2026 and EAN code 8588001691240. The supplier is again OVOGAL FARM. As stated in Billy's statement: "This product is being recalled due to the supply of eggs from a farm where avian influenza (bird flu) has been confirmed". They advise customers to immediately return the products to the store and apologize for the complications that have arisen.

The preventive measures were also taken by Metro, which informed on its website about the recall of two types of eggs - 749742 VAJCIA Z VOĽN.VÝBEH M,L 10 pcs and 56073 MC VAJCIA VOĽN.VÝBEH M/L 10 pcs , sold between January 15 and February 5, 2026. These products have EAN codes 8588001691240 and 8588001691219 and the date of minimum shelf life from February 11 to March 3, 2026. At the same time, Metro warns: "If you have purchased the mentioned product and you still have it at your disposal, please do not consume it". Products can be returned at all METRO Cash & Carry SR wholesale centers no later than February 13, 2026, and the money will be returned to customers even without a note if they request a duplicate document at the customer reception.

Massive death of poultry on a Slovak farm

Behind the whole situation is the confirmed occurrence of the H5N1 bird flu virus on the Čalovec farm, where approximately 400 turkeys were infected and subsequently died in a single day. There were up to 36,000 poultry in the farm, and on February 5, more than 7,000 of them died. The chief veterinarian of the Slovak Republic, Martin Chudý, stated that the mortality rate was 100% in the first infected hall. From February 3, all movements on the farm were stopped and the farmer had to immediately start implementing veterinary measures, including the planned depopulation, which began on February 5.

A protective zone with a radius of at least three kilometers was created around the farm. This zone includes the villages of Čalovec, the part of Kameničnej called Balvany, Okoličná na Ostrove and part of the village of Štúrovo. ŠVPS calls on the public to return eggs with the given marking and expiration dates to sellers as soon as possible and not to consume the products under any circumstances.

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https://www.peniaze.sk/nakupy/15651-vajcia-nebezpecne-feb-2026