December 20 2005, 18:49 APK-Inform

Ukraine: ex-chief vet Verbytcky clashes against AP Ministry on birds' vaccination

Ex chief of Ukraine's veterinary department Petro Verbytsky insists on urgent vaccination of birds in the Crimea and other regions of Ukraine. At the same time, representatives of Agrarian Policy Ministry strongly object to these measures.

According to Verbytsky, vaccination should prevent bird flu expansion and poultry infection during spring birds' migration. He says such measured have proved successful in Italy, USA, China and some other countries.

Meanwhile, Deputy Agrarian Policy Ministry Viktor Pabat and current Deputy Chief of State Veterinary Department Mykola Patsiuk are strongly opposing the necessity of vaccination. According to them, EU consultants do not advise to take such measures. Mr. Pabat reminds of a 3-year ban on imports of Ukrainian meat, poultry and eggs that will be introduced by the Euorpean countries in case that Ukraine does vaccinate the birds, while Verbytsky argues that stopping the virus is more pressing task than saving the small values of exports.

According to Ministry for Emergency situations data, 65,800 poultry heads were culled during December 3-19 in the Crimea's quarantine area.

On December 5 President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko stated that the chief veterinary inspector Verbytsky would be dismissed because of the professional errors concerned with bird flu infection outburst in the country. On December 9 Prime Minster Yuri Yekhanurov signed a resolution about Petro Verbytsky's resignation from the position. The decision inspired protests of Ukraine's veterinaries' association, who had been strongly opposing the dismissal of their chief and, in turn, accusing AP Ministry of incompetence, lack of professionalism and authoritative interference into their work.