Bird flu warning: mandatory stables in Cottbus and closures in the zoo!

Bird flu warning: mandatory stables in Cottbus and closures in the zoo!

The H5N1 bird flu is currently spreading rapidly in Germany, with wild birds particularly affected, which also has alarming consequences for the Brandenburg region. From now on, stricter measures apply in Cottbus and the Spree-Neiße district to contain the virus. Loud LR Online There is a requirement to keep poultry and birds in stables in order to prevent the further spread of avian influenza.

The measures are clearly noticeable: special precautions have been taken in the Cottbus Zoo. The Flamingo Lagoon remains closed to visitors for the time being, while endangered animals have been moved to winter quarters or equipped with protective devices. The footbridge at Oberteich is also closed, but other areas of the zoo are still accessible. Poultry farmers in the region are urged to follow strict safety precautions, including prohibiting feeding poultry outdoors and storing feed properly to avoid access to wild birds. In addition, all poultry keeping must be registered with the veterinary office and public poultry exhibitions are prohibited.

Current situation in Germany

Bird flu poses a major health risk, not only to birds but also potentially to humans. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, 15,000 animals have already had to be killed in order to contain the disease. A total of 29 outbreaks have already been identified in wild birds nationwide, with cranes particularly badly affected. It is estimated that around 2,000 cranes died. These worrying figures confirm the assessments of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), which classifies the risk of further outbreaks in poultry farms as “high”. This applies not only to Brandenburg, but to all of Germany, where bird flu was greatly increased by the autumn migration of birds.

The Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer, appeals to poultry farmers to take comprehensive protective measures to minimize the spread of the virus. The ministry has also applied to the EU to increase compensation payments for affected companies from 50 to up to 110 euros. While there is currently no increased risk of serious illness for the population, it is still recommended to avoid contact with dead or sick birds. Over 1,000 dead cranes were recovered in northern Brandenburg, underlining the urgency of the situation.

Prevention measures and protection

To combat the spread of bird flu, some precautionary measures for the population are crucial. It is particularly important that people who often come into contact with birds should consider the seasonal flu vaccination to prevent possible double infections. Even though there have been no H5N1 cases among people in Germany to date, the danger of transmitting the virus should not be underestimated. Once again it is emphasized that contact with sick or dead wild birds should be reported in order to prevent further spread of the virus.

Overall, the situation remains tense and requires increased vigilance and the willingness to take preventive measures from both animal owners and the general population. These challenging times require solid cooperation to protect both people and animals.