The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) in Lithuania has issued a warning to residents advising them to steer clear of locations where wild birds congregate, particularly near water bodies. While the risk of human infection remains low, visiting contaminated areas poses a significant chance of indirectly transmitting the virus to domestic birds. As the season for active bird migration approaches, the likelihood of the disease spreading to domestic poultry holdings increases significantly.

During this migratory period, open water bodies are particularly vulnerable to being infected due to the large gatherings of wild waterfowl. The VMVT emphasizes the importance of protecting not only domestic birds but also their feed and bedding from contact with wild birds. It is crucial to store feed and bedding securely to prevent access by wild birds, which could potentially carry the virus.

Residents are advised to follow precautionary measures by avoiding places with warning signs, refraining from feeding wild birds, and not walking their pets in these areas. Should they encounter any carcasses of wild birds, it is imperative to report these sightings to the VMVT immediately to control the spread of the virus effectively.