Governor: Avian influenza penetrates in the Penza region due to a fault of the authorities
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Penza, 25 July 2018. PenzaNews. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, the outbreaks of which were identified in the region in June, penetrated into the Penza region largely due to a fault of the authorities. Such an opinion was expressed by governor Ivan Belozertsev.
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"I think that this is mainly our fault – the fault of the authorities, [...] vets, heads of municipalities and rural settlements because our system has not been built properly. Everyone is in charge of their own area but we should take a wider look at this issue," he noted at the meeting of the intradepartmental anti-epizootic commission under the regional government dedicated to the issues of the prevention of avian influenza spread and its elimination held on Wednesday, July 25.
Ivan Belozertsev added that explanatory work with population had been intensified only after identification of the virus but had to be carried out on a regular basis.
In addition, the governor drew attention to the fact that the issues of biological safety were becoming more important for the Penza region as the region features such large companies as Damate and Cherkizovo.
"If we had allowed spread of the influenza around the whole Penza region, all production sites would have stopped existing," the region head explained stressing that the outbreaks of avian influenza had been contained.
Ivan Belozertsev also urged farmers not to withhold information about emerging issues.
"I warn large companies and would like to draw your attention to the following: nobody is allowed to conceal facts if a chicken or turkey 'bent its neck and fell'. In this case you need to write an immediate report to veterinary services," the governor said.
As PenzaNews reported before, in June 2018 avian influenza was detected in the Penza region at four private households as well as at production sites of two agricultural holdings – JC Vasilyevskaya Poultry Factory in the Bekovsky district (a member of Cherkizovo Group), and LLC PenzaMoilInvest (a member of Damate Group).
According to preliminary information, the loss of Damate Group is estimated at 400 million roubles, that of Cherkizovo Group – at 100 million roubles.
