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First outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 detected in a poultry house in Latvia
First outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 detected in a poultry house in Latvia
Published: 30.05.2025.
An outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 has been detected in a poultry farm in Birzgale parish, Ogre region, with 190 poultry. This is confirmed by the results of laboratory tests conducted at the Scientific Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”.
The Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) is carrying out disease control and containment measures at the facility, as well as an epidemiological investigation to determine the possible source of the virus and potential routes of virus spread from the affected facility.
To prevent further spread of the disease, all poultry in the facility are being culled, products derived from them are being destroyed, and cleaning and disinfection are being carried out. Restriction zones within a radius of 3 and 10 kilometers have been established around the affected facility, where the transport of live poultry and poultry products is prohibited. Strict biosecurity measures must also be observed in poultry facilities located in these areas.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is an acute, highly contagious infectious disease of birds, characterized by high mortality. Clinical signs of this particularly dangerous infectious disease in birds include sudden and rapid onset of the disease, weakness, refusal to feed, ruffled feathers, staggering gait, suffocation and death.
The virus is spread by wild birds, especially waterfowl, which may be asymptomatic. Poultry can become infected by contact with infected wild birds, for example, by accessing ponds and other bodies of water. Birds can also be infected by contaminated feed or objects (shoes, clothing, equipment) that have been contaminated with the virus.
To protect poultry from highly pathogenic avian influenza, the PVD calls on all poultry keepers to strictly adhere to biosecurity regulations - keep, feed and water poultry only in closed rooms or in an area with a waterproof roof to prevent contact with wild birds. For the same reason, poultry walking areas must also be fenced off and it is prohibited to release them into natural water bodies, except for artificially created, fenced-off water bodies used only for domestic waterfowl species.
It is also necessary to ensure that unauthorized persons do not have access to the poultry house; work or change clothes and shoes are used by persons who come into contact with the birds; water obtained from surface water bodies is not used when feeding and watering poultry; wild birds cannot access the feed and litter storage area.
All cases of suspected poultry disease must be reported immediately to a veterinarian or the PVD.
In the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the owner of the affected poultry house has the opportunity to receive state compensation for losses incurred during the disease control, if the house and poultry are registered in the Rural Support Service information system, and biosecurity and other requirements set out in regulatory enactments have been met in the house.
In Latvia, highly pathogenic avian influenza has so far only been detected in wild birds (for the first time in 2021). In 2025, 25 wild birds were examined for highly pathogenic avian influenza in Latvia, but no disease was detected in them.
We invite residents to report any found dead wild birds, especially waterfowl, by calling the PVD hotline - answering machine 67027402 or by informing the nearest PVD office. When reporting, please describe the exact location of the bird carcass or provide the coordinates. It should be noted that a bird carcass with the head and intact internal organs is valid for laboratory testing for avian influenza, therefore we invite you to report only wild birds that have not already been damaged (gnawed, eaten) by animals or other birds.
The municipality is responsible for collecting wild bird carcasses that are unsuitable for laboratory examination and cleaning up the surrounding area.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 is potentially zoonotic, meaning that there is a risk of infection for other animals and humans.
The probability that poultry products, including eggs, are also infected with the bird flu virus is low, however, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reminds that any animal products must be heat-treated before consumption. The bird flu virus, like other viruses, is killed during heat treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been notified of the outbreak. Information on the public health risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza is available on the CDC website.
Information about bird flu and precautions can be found HERE.
https://www.pvd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/l...nu-gripas-h5n1-uzliesmojums-majputnu-novietne