“In Portugal, the first outbreak was detected on November 30, 2021 in a domestic capoeira in the municipality of Palmela. Since then, 15 outbreaks of HPAI [high pathogenic avian influenza] of the H5N1 subtype have already been confirmed in our country”, reads the latest public notice issued by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV).

Of the total, 11 outbreaks concern domestic birds, including commercial farms for turkeys, chickens, ducks and a private collection of domestic poultry and the remaining four outbreaks cover wild birds.

So far, bird flu has been detected in the districts of Leiria, Lisbon, Santarém, Setúbal and Beja.

The latest outbreak was confirmed on Saturday, in a breeding and rearing farm for breeding ducks in the municipality of Torres Vedras.

Since the beginning of the month, four outbreaks have already been detected in this parish.

Appeal

The DGAV has once again appealed to all poultry keepers to comply with biosecurity measures and good poultry production practices, also reinforcing the hygiene procedures of facilities, equipment and materials.

In turn, the “notification of any suspicion must be carried out immediately”, allowing the adoption of control measures.