Crane death in Brandenburg: Avian influenza affects hundreds of animals!

Crane death in Brandenburg: Avian influenza affects hundreds of animals!

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is currently spreading alarmingly in Germany. Current reports from Deutschlandfunk According to the report, around 400,000 animals have already been killed to contain the virus. Cranes are particularly affected and are found dead in various places in Brandenburg.

Dead cranes have been being recovered in Brandenburg for days, with helpers in the Märkisch-Oderland district having to order the killing of 130,000 animals in two fattening farms. The H5N1 virus has also gained a foothold in Lower Saxony, where almost 15,000 animals in a turkey farm have to be culled. But how do such outbreaks occur? According to Martin Beer, head of the Institute for Virus Diagnostics at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute for Animal Health, the cranes apparently became infected through contact with other wild birds, such as wild ducks and wild geese. They carry the virus without becoming seriously ill themselves.

Bird migration and its consequences

The current situation is directly related to bird migration. Wild birds rest on their way to winter quarters, which contributes to the spread of the virus. Cranes in particular are highly susceptible to the H5N1 virus because they live in close groups. While the Friedrich Loeffler Institute reports that the peak of wild bird migration has not yet been reached, scientists are already observing an increase in infections in several regions, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg, where crane deaths have also been recorded.

In addition to the concern for wild birds, commercial poultry farmers are also severely affected. More than 30 companies in Germany are already considering measures to combat the disease. The effects are dramatic and the pressure on animal owners is increasing.

What happens in everyday life in the affected regions?

The rabid bird disease not only represents a health risk factor for the animals, but also has significant economic consequences. Farmers are forced to adapt to the uncertain situation and develop emergency plans. In January 2024, nine outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza were detected in Germany.

The challenges are diverse. According to information from Friedrich Loeffler Institute Individual poultry farmers and also businesses with laying hens and turkeys are affected. To date there have been 31 confirmed cases in wild birds, with the majority of cases recorded in Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Brandenburg.

Bird flu remains a serious issue that affects everyone. Whether the affected regions can handle the situation well will become clear in the coming weeks. Above all, the hope remains that the wave of infections will soon level off and there will be no further deaths.