WASHINGTON — The toll of animal diseases is beginning to negatively impact Polish poultry production, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Poland is the largest EU poultry producer, accounting for over 20% of total EU production, but that market share may be affected by the onslaught of major animal disease outbreaks, a report from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) suggested.

At a time when poultry demand is growing and production costs are lower, Poland is unable to bank in on the prime environment for increased production due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle disease (ND).

HPAI continues to infiltrate commercial poultry operations in Poland, leading to the implementation of new biosecurity measures that are compliant with the European Union, the FAS reported.

Meanwhile, new appearances of ND among Polish flocks have invoked regulatory actions such as mandatory ND vaccination.

On June 23, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed the latest ND detection in Poland. The virus affected a poultry farm in Palubice containing 17,640 broilers.

As a result, several control measures were put in place, including culling of the flock, movement control, zoning and traceability, among other actions.

The source of the infection is still “unknown or inconclusive,” WOAH said in its report.

Other countries outside of Poland with ongoing ND outbreaks include Canada, Burkina Faso and Israel, according to WOAH.

Earlier this month, the presence of ND was confirmed in two pigeon farms in Canada for the first time in over 50 years. The affected flock — located in Fraser Valley, British Columbia — was culled, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency immediately quarantined the area and mandated movement controls.