A confirmed case of bird flu has been detected in the area of Athalassa Park.
According to the first information, it is a goose that was spotted by a woman in the previous days behaving in an abnormal way. The bird in question died the next day.
The announcement of the Veterinary Services
"The Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment inform the public that a case of H5N1 Avian Influenza has been detected in Cyprus.
Avian Influenza is a viral, contagious avian disease caused by the influenza virus type A. Healthy birds are infected either directly, through direct contact with infected or other sick birds, or indirectly with contaminated objects.
The case concerns a goose that was found in the lake of the Athalassa National Forest Park, in the Nicosia District. Therefore, it is recommended that those who visit the park avoid approaching, offer food and come into close contact with the birds.
The Veterinary Services continue the laboratory tests in collaboration with the Community Reference Laboratory, to verify the virulence of the virus that has been identified and have informed the European Commission and the World Organization for Animal Health.
Owners of poultry farms must take all necessary measures to prevent contact of wild birds or migratory birds with their farmed poultry.
In addition, we inform the owners of domestic poultry that they must confine their birds to closed covered areas to avoid their direct and indirect contact with wild birds. This is particularly true for communities adjacent to wetlands. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to keep poultry in the open air, to provide food and water outdoors and to avoid the provision and distribution of food in a way that would encourage the opportunity to feed wild birds from the food left for domestic farmed birds. It is also forbidden to provide poultry with water from surface water tanks to which wild birds have access.
Any owner who notices increased morbidity and/or mortality of poultry that raise a suspicion of an incident of the disease, is obliged, based on the Animal Health Laws, to immediately inform the District Veterinary Officer of the Province to which he belongs about the suspicion by calling the following telephone numbers depending on the District:
Nicosia District Veterinary Office, tel: 22 805241
Larnaca District Veterinary Office, tel: 24 821275
Famagusta District Veterinary Office, tel: 24 824555
Limassol District Veterinary Office, tel: 25 819512
Paphos District Veterinary Office, tel: 26 821260"
