Bird flu horror: cranes and geese affected in Ostprignitz-Ruppin!

Bird flu horror: cranes and geese affected in Ostprignitz-Ruppin!

Bird flu is spreading rapidly in Ostprignitz-Ruppin, which has significant consequences for poultry farmers. How maz online reported, a requirement to keep poultry in stables had to be imposed in the region. This measure is intended to prevent the highly aggressive H5N1 virus from spreading further. The pressure to act here is enormous. Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer has therefore called a meeting of the state agriculture ministers to discuss a coordinated approach.

The situation has worsened dramatically in the last two weeks: around 400,000 animals have already been culled due to the outbreaks in Germany, including several thousand chickens, ducks and geese. The federal states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are particularly affected, where losses are already in the hundreds of thousands. The infected wild birds are often carriers of the disease, and recently more than 1,000 cranes died in a single week in the Linum pond area.

Containment measures

In order to contain the spread, the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG) has called on the federal states to take immediate measures such as confinement. ZDG President Hans-Peter Goldnick warns that waiting is not an option as it endangers Germany's entire poultry production.

In Kremmen, in the neighboring district of Oberhavel, 5,000 geese had to be culled because of bird flu. The carcass gathering in Linum aims to prevent the virus from being transmitted to other wild birds. In addition to the stable requirement, greater support for poultry farmers could also be necessary, particularly in the form of compensation, which is to be increased from 50 euros to up to 110 euros per animal killed.

Vaccinations and protective measures

While the stable requirement is intended to provide temporary protection, there is also a shortage of vaccines against the viral infection. The Neuruppin Health Department does not expect the first vaccines for corona vaccinations until November, which makes the situation even more tense. The Standing Vaccination Commission also recommends booster vaccinations for people over 60 and certain risk groups. They can already book an appointment free of charge.

Amid all these challenges, there is also positive news in the region. The Hotel Schloss Sigrön near Bad Wilsnack has opened two new, fully equipped tiny houses, which have been well received by the first guests. The building permits for further tiny houses are already available.

However, it remains to be seen how the current bird flu crisis will develop and what further measures are necessary to protect animal populations and agriculture.