Bird flu: compulsory stable threatens – Brandenburg on alert!

Bird flu: compulsory stable threatens – Brandenburg on alert!

In the midst of the rapidly spreading bird flu, Brandenburg's Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt (SPD) is planning a general requirement for poultry farmers to keep stables throughout Brandenburg. In her latest statement, she emphasizes that this decision may be made this week. The situation is becoming increasingly serious as bird flu is considered to be extremely dynamic. Particularly in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, there will be an obligation to keep birds in stables from Wednesday after dead wild birds were found with the highly contagious H5N1 virus. The background to the measures are more than 200,000 animals that have already been killed due to the disease, including chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys. [Süddeutsche] reports that the owners may receive support from the state.

As the experts explain, contact with wild birds must be urgently prevented in order to minimize the risk of further spread. Hygiene measures are also crucial. The minister highlights that all decisions are made based on risk, as the situation is different in different counties: some have no confirmed cases yet, while others are severely affected. The warnings about the spread of bird flu are getting louder; it could be an unprecedented wave. For example, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has raised the risk assessment to “high”, which also raises concerns about economic damage for poultry farmers. [Tagesschau] reports possible supply bottlenecks for eggs and poultry meat.

Economic concerns and political debates

Georg Heitlinger from the Baden-Württemberg State Association of the Poultry Industry expresses concern and is calling for a nationwide requirement for stables. Farmers agree that quick measures are urgently needed to protect the animals and survive the cold season without further losses. The scale of bird flu this autumn could be comparable to the outbreaks of 2020/21, when over two million animals had to be culled. According to estimates, 50 cases of infection have already been registered in poultry farms this year, 26 of which were in October alone. [Tagesspiegel] makes it clear that the situation is becoming increasingly problematic, especially due to bird migration in autumn.

The Greens in the Bundestag see the spread of bird flu as a structural problem in factory farming and are calling for comprehensive reforms. One point of debate is the possibility of vaccination strategies to better protect animals; However, the import of products from vaccinated poultry is currently rejected in many countries. ZDG President Hans-Peter Goldnick is now calling for a comprehensive discussion about how protective measures can be implemented. The psychological strain on the helpers who have to pick up the carcasses is also an important factor. District Administrator Rald Reinhardt describes the situation as “depressing” and emphasizes that this also represents a heavy burden for the helpers.

Overall, the situation remains tense and it remains to be seen what measures the minister will order. Poultry farmers are faced with the challenge of protecting their stocks and at the same time securing supplies for the population. In view of the losses so far, it is clear that a good hand is required here to prevent anything worse from happening.