Bird flu alarm in Brandenburg: 10,000 Peking ducks must die!

Bird flu alarm in Brandenburg: 10,000 Peking ducks must die!

There is worrying news in Brandenburg: bird flu is continuing to spread. According to reporting by Berlin newspaper A new case was discovered in a poultry farm in the Märkisch-Oderland district, which resulted in the killing of 10,000 Peking ducks. This measure is necessary to contain the rapid spread of the highly contagious virus.

This fall, more than 130,000 geese and ducks have already been killed in several poultry farms in the district, making Brandenburg one of the hardest hit states in Germany. A total of eleven cases of bird flu have been detected in kept birds there. The number of animals affected and the drama of the situation are alarming: around 155,000 animals have already died due to bird flu, which is reminiscent of the serious outbreaks of 2016/2017.

The location in detail

As if it wasn't enough, the region is also facing worrying crane die-offs. Over 2,200 dead cranes were collected from the Linumer Teichland in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, and predictions are that up to 2,500 animals probably died as a result of the disease. The situation has been described as dramatic by ornithologists like Axel Schonert, while the number of cases in Saxony-Anhalt continues to rise, especially among cranes.

In Lower Saxony, the authorities are alarmed and have imposed a stable requirement in several districts in order to stop the spread of the virus. In the south of Germany, however, there have been hardly any cases recorded so far, which at least calms the situation there somewhat.

An international threat

However, bird flu is not just a regional problem. The United States has had massive outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in cattle since March 2024, which has spread to over 200 dairy farms in 14 states. A research group at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute has found that the virus reproduces mainly in the udder of cattle, which leads to a decline in milk production. Within one year, 15 human infections with the viral pathogen were confirmed ( Friedrich Loeffler Institute ).

The experts' urgent recommendation is clear: measures must be taken to contain the spread of the virus in order to prevent genetic adaptations. The situation in the USA shows how dangerous bird flu can be not only for birds, but also for other animal species and public health.

Amid these challenging circumstances, it is important to continue to closely monitor the development of avian influenza and take preventative measures. The fight against this highly contagious disease requires joint efforts, both locally and internationally.