Poland's chief veterinary officer confirmed Dec. 31, 2019, the first outbreak of the H5N8 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Poland as well as secondary outbreaks of the disease on two contact farms, according to the Netherlands Agricultural Attache Network (LAN).

LAN wrote about the first outbreak here.

All three affected farms are located in the Lubelskie province in eastern Poland. LAN noted that the index farm kept 12,089 turkeys, while the second farm housed 9,500 turkeys and the third managed 20,600 turkeys.

Poland's veterinary services have implemented all HPAI control procedures for poultry.

Additional outbreaks

According to LAN, a fourth avian flu outbreak was detected on a farm that breeds about 13,000 guinea fowl in the Lubelskie province near the first three outbreaks.

Additionally, on Jan. 3, test results were received from the national reference laboratory for avian influenza, confirming the occurrence of H5N8 HPAI on a farm that keeps laying hens located in the Wielkopolskie province of western Poland, LAN said.