Bird flu shocks Brandenburg: 35,000 ducks are killed!

Bird flu shocks Brandenburg: 35,000 ducks are killed!

The spread of the bird flu virus in Germany is becoming increasingly threatening. A particularly alarming case occurred at a poultry farm in Neuhardenberg, where 35,000 ducks will have to be killed next Sunday after infections were found in the farm's stables. These drastic measures are necessary to stop the further spread of the virus, which is of great concern to the agricultural sector. Five companies are currently affected in Brandenburg, and concerns about economic damage grow with each new case. That's what he reports Berlin courier.

In the past few weeks, hundreds of thousands of birds across Germany have had to be slaughtered because of the highly contagious H5N1 virus. According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, over 400,000 ducks, geese, hens and chickens are affected. A major outbreak recently occurred in the Alb-Donau district in Baden-Württemberg, where around 15,000 animals had to be killed. Poultry farms in northeastern Germany are particularly affected. This is not only a setback for the industry but also a cause for concern for consumers, they said Time.

Distribution among wild birds and its consequences

The spread of the virus has also increased sharply among wild birds, especially cranes. At least 1,000 dead cranes have been recorded in Brandenburg, and around 2,000 cranes are affected nationwide, including 500 at a reservoir between Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In order to counteract further spread, crane observation areas were cordoned off and hygiene precautions were tightened in the affected companies. Consumers should also be careful to heat eggs well, as the virus can be transmitted to people through food, although this is rare, as the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment notes.

Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer has called a crisis meeting to discuss the current situation with his state counterparts. For him and the agriculture ministers, preventing the virus from spreading further is the top priority. The situation is now so worrying that the implementation of compulsory stables is being discussed in order to minimize contact between farm animals and wild birds. This is reported by the MDR.

The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry is calling on the states to act quickly because waiting is not an option. Hans-Peter Goldnick, president of the association, urgently warns that poultry production across Germany is at risk and it is time to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat the virus. Interestingly, the industry is feeling pressure as the public shows increasing interest in hygiene practices and the provenance of their food.

It remains to be seen how the situation will develop, but the responsibility for protecting animals and preventing damage to agriculture now lies more with the authorities and farmers than ever before. The ongoing threat of the avian influenza virus now calls for broader collaboration between countries to find the right balance between animal welfare and economic stability.