Summary:  On October 7, 2005 an outbreak of avian influenza, subtype H5, was confirmed

on a backyard farm in Ceamurlia-de-Jos, Tulcea County, in eastern Romania.  Testing to determine the N subtype and pathogenicity of the virus is not yet completed. 

In 2004, Romania’s poultry stocks totaled about 86 million chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys amounting to 0.5% of world stocks.  As a share of the world’s total production, Romania produced 0.6% of egg production and 0.2% of chicken meat production.  During 2003, Romania exported 305,000 live chickens valued at $112,000, accounting for less than 0.1% of world live chicken exports.  Romania also exported chicken meat, eggs, and canned chicken in 2003.

The US did not import any poultry, poultry products, or birds from Romania between January 2003 and July 2005.  Neither Canada nor Mexico imported any poultry, poultry products, or birds from Romania for the same time-period.

How extensive is avian influenza in Romania, and what was Romania’s disease status prior to the outbreak?

On October 7, 2005 an outbreak of avian influenza was reported on a backyard farm in Ceamurlia-de-Jos, Tulcea County in eastern Romania.  The virus was confirmed as H5 on October 13, 2005.  Testing to determine the N subtype and the pathogenicity of the virus is not yet completed.  There were 100 birds (58 laying hens and 42 ducks) on the affected farm, with 36 cases and 36 deaths.  The remaining birds were destroyed. The source of the outbreak is thought to be contact with wild birds.  Control measures undertaken include: stamping out, quarantine, movement control, and disinfection of infected premises.  The last reported occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Romania was in 1942.

For impact worksheets regarding outbreaks of the H5N1 epidemic strain of HPAI in Southeast Asia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey see http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cei/worksheets.htm

Source: OIE Disease Information Report, Europa press release 10/13/05

What is Romania’s place in the international market for poultry and poultry products?

In 2004, Romania’s poultry stocks totaled about 86 million chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys amounting to 0.5% of world stocks (Table 1).  Chickens, totaling over 76 million head in 2004, comprised the majority of Romania’s poultry stocks, followed by geese, ducks, and turkeys.  Romania produced 146,568 metric tons of chicken meat and 395,042 metric tons of eggs in 2004.  As a share of the world’s total production, Romania produced 0.6% of egg production and 0.2% of chicken meat production.

Table 1: Poultry stocks and production, Romania, 2003 and 2004

During 2003, Romania exported 305,000 live chickens valued at $112,000 (Table 2).  By quantity and value, the live chicken exports were less than 0.1% of world live chicken exports.  Romania also exported chicken meat, offal, and chicken liver products.  By quantity, The Netherlands imported 73% of the chicken meat exported from Romania in 2004.  Romania exported 1,298 metric tons of eggs valued at over $1.4 million.  Romania’s largest poultry product export in 2003 was canned chicken meat (2,664 metric tons) amounting to 0.3% of the world’s total value and quantity.

Table 2:  Exports of live poultry and poultry products, Romania, 2002 - 2003

*Less than 1 metric ton reported

Source: United Nations FAO; Romania Poultry and Products Annual Report 2005, USDA FAS GAIN Report # R05010, 8/29/05

What are the US imports of poultry or poultry products from Romania?

The US did not import any poultry, poultry products or birds from Romania between January 2003 and July 2005.

Source: World Trade Atlas

What are Canada’s and Mexico’s imports of poultry or poultry products from Romania?

Neither Canada nor Mexico imported any poultry, poultry products or birds from Romania between January 2003 and July 2005.

Source: World Trade Atlas

What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in the United States from Romania?

In 2004, 30,270 residents of Romania arrived on flights to the US.  As part of AHIS-PPQ’s agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring, 293 air passengers from Romania were sampled for items of agricultural interest in fiscal year 2004.  No passengers were found to be carrying poultry items of interest.

Source: Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, US Department of Commerce, USDA APHIS-PPQ Agricultural Quarantine Inspection databases, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

CEI’s plans for follow up:

At this time CEI has no plans to provide additional information on this subject.  If you need more information or if you want to comment on this worksheet, you may reply to this message, or contact Judy Akkina at (970) 494-7329 or Kamina Johnson at (970) 494-7340.