EU Farmers Facing Crashing Poultry Consumption

As Greece, Italy and Bulgaria confirm the presence of the virulent H5N1 bird flu virus strain, European Union countries have upped their contingencies while poultry farmers throughout the continent look on in alarm.


Europe is bracing itself for the coming bird migratory season, which starts in Spring, when birds will start flying northwards from Nigeria, where bird flu is spreading fast.


Various parts of Italy have already reported poultry sales plunging by over 50%. One Italian poultry company said the scare alone could cost the European poultry industry over 1 billion Euros. Since Saturday, when bird flu was confirmed in Greece, poultry sales in that country have crashed by over 90%.


France says it may soon force all its farmers to keep their farmed poultry indoors. Germany will probably follow suit, also banning the sale of poultry in open markets. Every country in the European Union is carefully looking at what to do and most say they will probably bring forward their contingency plans.


Bulgaria depends heavily on poultry farming for employment. It is a major exporter of poultry to the EU. Tons of 'foie gras' have been piling up in Bulgarian warehouses as orders melt away.


Romania, a major exporter of poultry to the USA has seen sales plummet. Bird flu was confirmed in several parts of the country a few months ago.


As the bird flu virus makes headway into the European Union, the region's massive veterinary and public health services will go into action. If anywhere can cope with the arrival of bird flu, it is probably the EU. There is much less 'backyard poultry' in this region of Western Europe when compared to other parts of the world where bird flu is present, government agencies are well prepared and have rehearsed for the arrival of bird flu. EU countries are well stocked up with antiviral drugs to treat human infections. Geographically, the region is vulnerable as it lies in the flight paths of migratory birds from Siberia and Africa (both areas have infected birds).


There are only four continents left that are H5N1 bird flu free: North America, South America, Australasia and Antarctica. Ornithologists say the Americas are in the best geographical position as few birds fly from Asia/Europe/Africa to the Americas (some do, but not many).


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