Frank Zander mourns Erna: bird flu shakes Kremmen!

Frank Zander mourns Erna: bird flu shakes Kremmen!

These days the warning sign of bird flu is emerging in Brandenburg. The well-known singer and entertainer Frank Zander mourns the loss of his goose Erna, who died as a result of avian influenza. Erna was not only a sponsor of the Kremmen asparagus farm, but also a living reminder of a promise Zander made in 2018 when he named the goose after a popular hit from the 80s. The loss not only affects Zander, but also the asparagus farm, whose operations manager Malte Voigts wishes him a lot of strength to overcome the difficult situation. Loud maz-online.de 5,000 geese and 3,600 ducks have now had to be killed in the region.

But what exactly is behind this wave of bird flu? This disease, caused by the virus HPAIV (H5N1), has spread massively in Germany. The Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer is calling for strict protective measures to stop the spread of the disease. Not only Brandenburg is particularly affected, but also larger poultry farms in federal states such as Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony. More than 200,000 farm animals have recently been killed because of bird flu in order to prevent something worse from happening tagesschau.de.

Christmas party for those in need

The situation could have consequences for Frank Zander and his son Marcus' annual Christmas party, where roast goose is served for people in need. Goose legs could become more expensive to procure this year, creating additional challenges. Nevertheless, Marcus Zander hopes that the number of portions for the homeless and needy will remain at 2,500 and plans to cover the additional costs through donations. The celebration will take place on December 22nd at the Hotel Estrel in Berlin.

A look into the future

Frank Zander is optimistic and hopes that the asparagus farm will soon have new free-range geese again, so that perhaps next year a new goose will have the same fate as Erna. The focus is on the future situation in agriculture and animal husbandry, which is severely threatened by bird flu. The production of poultry meat and eggs in Germany is at risk. Loud n-tv.de Per capita consumption of poultry meat and eggs has increased in recent years, while domestic production is threatened by disease outbreaks.

The question remains how the situation will develop further. Especially given that the Friedrich Loeffler Institute has raised the risk of further outbreaks to “high”, it will be crucial for poultry farmers and the entire industry to take hygiene and protective measures seriously. The population is also called upon to avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds and to report any finds to the authorities. A look at the next few weeks will show whether the measures are having an effect or whether the misery will continue to spread.