Avian influenza in Mazovia: fairs and shows banned

23 April 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Avian influenza in Mazovia expands to seven counties; voivode bans bird fairs and orders poultry kept indoors.

Deadly avian influenza in Mazovia has spread faster than authorities can contain. Consequently the Mazovian voivode signed an urgent regulation that expands infected and threatened zones. The regulation bans fairs, exhibitions and competitions with birds.

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Where the outbreak has reached and what changed

Voivode Mariusz Frankowski updated zones on 20 April 2026. Consequently seven counties north and west of Warsaw now face restrictions. Moreover the directly affected gminas include parts of Żuromin, Mława, Płońsk, Sierpc, Gostynin, Ciechanów and Płock counties. Therefore local residents must follow strict measures regardless of flock size. In addition livestock owners must house all birds indoors. Moreover ducks and geese must stay isolated from other species. The government banned all bird markets, shows, and contests in the zones. These bans apply to hobby keepers and to industrial farms alike.

avian influenza in Mazovia: rules, risks and enforcement

The disease kills poultry rapidly. Consequently mortality in affected flocks can reach one hundred percent. However humans face very low infection risk. In addition health authorities say only prolonged direct contact with sick birds poses a danger. Therefore cooking poultry thoroughly protects consumers. Moreover routine disinfectants kill the virus. Farmers must report sudden deaths to the County Veterinary Officer. In addition failure to report can lead to penalties or a mandat (fine). Authorities may record PESEL (national ID number) for tracing. Also officials may require data linked to ZUS (social security) and NFZ (National Health Fund) records for compensation and health follow-up.

Why this matters to expats and Warsaw residents

Many expats live in Warsaw and buy food in the city. Consequently supply chains can suffer from culling and transport limits. Therefore prices for chicken and eggs might rise in the coming weeks. However supermarkets usually maintain stock from unaffected regions. In addition if you live in an affected gmina avoid backyard birds. Report suspicious signs to the vet. Moreover avoid live bird markets and contact with wild waterfowl along rivers like the Vistula. The government monitors migrations and adjusts zones quickly. Therefore check official notices on mazovia.pl often.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you keep poultry in the listed gminas, keep birds indoors and report sudden deaths to the County Veterinary Officer. Moreover the bans apply to all keepers, even hobbyists. You may face a mandat (fine) for noncompliance. In addition officials can order culling with compensation procedures. Check mazovia.pl for maps and alerts. Contact your local town hall for help with forms. Finally remember that institutions like ZUS (social security) and NFZ (National Health Fund) will not manage animal compensation, but officials may request your PESEL (national ID) during the process.

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