Bird flu in Havelland: Danger for poultry farmers is growing!

Bird flu in Havelland: Danger for poultry farmers is growing!

Bird flu is currently spreading at an alarming rate in Havelland. Cranes are particularly affected, as they die in large numbers. Dirk Peters, chairman of the Havelland district farmers' association, expresses his concern about the worrying situation. Helpers are struggling to collect carcasses from the fields in Linum and near Nauen. He warns that the situation could get worse, especially since the autumn migration of wild geese has not yet really begun. “This could further promote the spread of the disease,” said Peters.

We are facing a serious challenge across the country. Loud ZDF today, bird flu is present in Germany all year round, but increases with the autumn bird migration. Recently, 15,000 animals have been killed in a single poultry farm in Baden-Württemberg, and thousands of cranes have lost their lives in many regions. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has classified the risk of further outbreaks in poultry farms as “high”.

What does this mean for poultry farmers in Havelland? At the moment, no major damage has been reported to local poultry farmers, but a look at other regions paints a bleak picture. In Oberhavel, 5,000 geese and 3,600 ducks recently had to be killed, while 6,200 turkeys were culled in one farm in Potsdam-Mittelmark. Across the country, more than 200,000 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys have already been killed due to outbreaks this fall, reports said daily news.

Urgent recommendations to pet owners

The situation could become critical for many poultry farmers, especially before Christmas, as they are dependent on the Christmas business during this time. Peters recommends slaughtering healthy animals intended for the festival ahead of time and freezing them. This could help minimize possible losses.

The population does not have to worry too much about their health. There are currently no known cases of H5N1 in humans, but there is a risk of transmission at high infection doses. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture therefore calls for strict protection and recommends that poultry farmers strictly follow hygiene rules and avoid contact with wild birds. It is also advised to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and to report such finds to the authorities immediately.

All eyes are now on the coming days as both farmers and authorities monitor the situation to contain the spread of bird flu as best as possible. It remains to be hoped that the strict measures and the support of the district farmers' association will help the situation stabilize and no new outbreaks occur.