Bird flu in Brandenburg: Mandatory stables now apply almost everywhere!

Bird flu in Brandenburg: Mandatory stables now apply almost everywhere!

Bird flu, a highly pathogenic animal disease, is currently spreading threateningly in Germany. The situation is becoming increasingly serious, especially in Brandenburg, where many poultry farmers have recently been required to have stables. This order not only affects the Oder-Spree district, but also the cities of Potsdam, Cottbus and Brandenburg an der Havel as well as almost all other districts in the region. In the Uckermark, a general obligation to keep stables will come into force next Sunday. The Märkisch-Oderland district has so far only required commercial poultry farmers to have stables. District Administrator Gernot Schmidt (SPD) emphasizes the particular importance of this order, especially for organic farms and free-range farming, which are now particularly in need of protection, as bird flu is present in Germany all year round, although with an increased risk during the autumn bird migration ZDF today supplemented.

There are now the first suspected cases in Berlin: two dead cranes tested positive in the northwest of the district, although confirmation from the renowned Friedrich Loeffler Institute is still pending. The district has already called on its poultry farmers to be more vigilant. While there is still no general obligation to keep stables in Berlin, district mayor Nadja Zivkovic appeals to owners to keep their animals in stables as a precaution. Nevertheless, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) estimates the risk of infection for people to be low as long as large amounts of virus are not ingested. So far there are no known cases in Germany in which people have become infected.

Current developments and impacts

Bird flu not only has local consequences, but is also a Germany-wide problem. In recent years, outbreaks have increased dramatically, especially in Brandenburg. It is estimated that thousands of cranes have already died and the number of documented outbreaks in wild birds has increased significantly. According to the rbb24 Around 200,000 animals, including chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys, have now lost their lives due to outbreaks. The current outbreaks are not only drastic in Brandenburg, but also in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony, where tens of thousands of animals had to be killed on large farms.

What is particularly worrying is that the virus is becoming more aggressive and contagious. Diseased birds often show symptoms such as loss of appetite and shortness of breath and die quickly after the disease begins. The Brandenburg State Office for the Environment therefore recommends avoiding resting areas for wild birds, as wild animals can carry and spread the virus without symptoms. Climate change also affects the migratory behavior of birds, which contributes to the spread of infectious diseases and raises alarms.

Prevention and health protection

The Robert Koch Institute advises strictly avoiding contact with dead birds and calls for dead animals to be reported to the responsible authorities. Although there is no increased risk for humans, people who have professional contact with poultry are advised to take special protective measures. The general population has an extremely low risk of serious illness as long as hygiene regulations are followed.
The prevention strategy continues to focus on eradicating the virus through killing and hygiene measures. Vaccines against bird flu have not been approved in Germany for a long time, although there are special vaccines for poultry in France. Experts are working on new strategies to control and vaccinate poultry, but the question of exporting products from vaccinated animals remains a critical issue.