Bird flu alarm in Saarland: Stable obligation imposed from October 30th!

Bird flu alarm in Saarland: Stable obligation imposed from October 30th!

Bird flu continues to spread in Germany and is forcing the federal states to react strictly. From October 30th, a requirement to keep poultry in stables will be introduced in Saarland South German newspaper reported. This measure was issued by the State Office for Consumer Protection (LAV) and aims to protect poultry populations and other birds. The trigger for the order was a confirmed case of the H5N1 virus in a wild bird in Saarland, which is considered a threat to domestic populations.

All events involving poultry are prohibited from the same day. The Ministry of the Environment and the LAV are responsible for monitoring compliance with these measures. Experts agree that bird flu was introduced by wild cranes, which recently caused a sharp increase in infection cases in Germany.

Impact on poultry farming

The situation remains tense: Since the beginning of September, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has registered over 31 outbreaks in poultry farms and 131 cases in wild birds. The federal states of Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria are particularly affected. In Lower Saxony, for example, compulsory stables have already been ordered in six districts.

Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer emphasizes the need for a coordinated approach to contain the spread of the virus. The pressure on the authorities is growing, the agriculture ministers of the federal states were invited to the meeting in order to synchronize measures and establish enclosures that are intended to ensure the separation of farm animals and wild birds. The MDR points out that cases have increased dramatically in the last two weeks.

Supply bottlenecks feared

The situation also brings economic risks. More than 200,000 animals, including chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys, have already been killed because of bird flu. The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry sees a risk of supply bottlenecks for eggs and poultry meat. ZDG President Hans-Peter Goldnick warns that poultry production throughout Germany is at risk and urgently calls for a nationwide compulsory stable, unless geese are involved, where this is not practical.

The FLI's risk assessment has been raised to high because bird flu has reached previously unknown levels this autumn. Vaccination strategies and adjustments to animal disease law are also under discussion, especially since other countries refuse to import products from vaccinated poultry. The daily news reports on illnesses in wild birds that are considered to be carriers of avian influenza, and emphasizes the burden on animal farmers who are severely affected by the devastating effects of the disease.

Once again it is clear that bird flu is not only a health issue, but also an economic issue of major proportions, which poses major challenges for all those affected.