Within a period of just four days, the Food and Veterinary Agency received more than 130 reports of dead birds.

The presence of West Nile virus has so far been confirmed in three cases involving dead crows, two of which were found in Skopje and one in Resen.

According to a statement from the Food and Veterinary Agency, some of the reported birds were in an advanced state of decomposition, making laboratory testing impossible.

The monitoring process is being carried out across the country, and the authorities are appealing to citizens to report immediately if they encounter an unusual concentration of dead birds in the same place and within a short period of time.

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Two shipments of UHT milk, with a total weight of 27,520 kilograms, were not allowed to enter the country from the Republic of Kosovo through the Blace border crossing. Inspection services of the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) found that the level of aflatoxin exceeded the maximum limits set by the applicable legal regulations.

According to the FVA, the unsafe milk, which had been intended for distribution through a chain of supermarkets in the country, was destroyed last week at the Drisla landfill. The process was carried out safely and under the supervision of an official veterinarian.

Samples for laboratory analysis were taken from both UHT milk shipments as part of the Monitoring Programme, which FVA inspectors at the border crossing apply to consignments of food of animal origin imported into the country.

The Agency also said that on 17 July this year, a Decision was adopted on the implementation of special safety measures during the import of milk, dairy products, as well as products containing condensed milk and powdered milk. The decision strengthened official controls for these animal products through mandatory laboratory testing and inspections to ensure compliance with quality requirements, with the aim of placing only safe and high-quality products on the domestic market, while also ensuring fair competition and protecting domestic producers and consumers.

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Following reports from citizens about dead birds, the Food and Veterinary Agency, together with Skopje’s municipal utility company, will conduct field inspections. During this operation, new samples will be collected and analysed to verify the presence of the West Nile fever virus.

The FVA confirmed to TVM that the special team established last week had previously collected samples, but they proved unsuitable for laboratory analysis.

“The Food and Veterinary Agency has received several reports from citizens about dead birds. In this regard, a special team was formed last week, which went into the field on Friday and, in cooperation with PE Communal Hygiene – Skopje, secured samples from the dead birds. The initial inspection showed that the samples were dry and unsuitable for analysis. For this reason, starting Monday, the field team will secure new samples for analysis,” the Food and Veterinary Agency said.

So far, five people have died as a result of West Nile fever. Meanwhile, the Clinic for Infectious Diseases reported that no new cases of infection with the virus were recorded today.

Currently, 22 patients are hospitalised at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, while four of them are in critical condition. The youngest patient is 25 years old. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show that the highest number of West Nile fever cases has been recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain, Macedonia and Romania. /rtvm2

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The Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) announced today that its teams are continuously on the ground, monitoring the sheep pox situation and implementing the necessary control and protection measures in a timely manner. Regarding the possibility of vaccination, the Agency said that a request for vaccine donations had been forwarded to the European Commission and the Republic of Turkey.

According to the FVA, the expert group meets regularly to determine the appropriate measures, while the European Commission has again been asked for support from the EUVET team in managing the disease. Once a response regarding vaccination is received, the vaccine’s safety and purity will first be checked, after which vaccination will begin.

The Agency warned that any farmer who carries out vaccination at their own expense without the FVA’s approval will be sanctioned accordingly. In such cases, no compensation will be provided for either sick or confiscated animals.

The FVA provided these clarifications in its response to the media following a press conference by the Sheep Breeders’ Association, which raised the alarm outside the Government building this morning over the situation caused by sheep pox.

The FVA also explained that it receives reports of disease outbreaks on specific farms through veterinary associations with which it has agreements to carry out public activities.

After receiving such information, blood samples and swabs are taken to verify the presence of the sheep and goat pox virus. When the disease is confirmed, the FVA director issues a decision on the implementation of control and protection measures, under which the animals are euthanized and then buried.

Breeders again called today for sheep to be vaccinated urgently against sheep pox and for compensation to be increased.

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The Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) has denied reports circulating publicly that water from Skopje’s water supply system is unsafe for consumption due to the alleged presence of the bacterium Escherichia coli.

The FVA said that, to date, it has received no notification from Skopje’s public utility company of any unsatisfactory drinking water laboratory test results. The institution stressed that reporting such a result is a legal obligation and would serve as grounds for imposing a ban on the use of the water.

According to the Agency, residents have no reason for concern, as water from the City of Skopje’s supply network is safe both to drink and to use./Telegrafi/

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