Red alert in Prignitz: bird flu forces compulsory stables!

Red alert in Prignitz: bird flu forces compulsory stables!

Concerns about bird flu are increasing in the Prignitz district. The outbreak of the dreaded virus has been detected in the region, which is now leading to far-reaching measures. According to maz-online.de, the dangerous H5N1 virus was confirmed in dead cranes that have been in the wild since October 23rd Rest areas were found along the Elbe. This means that the concerns of animal owners and nature lovers in the region have a serious background.

From next Wednesday, October 29th, a general animal disease order will come into force. This requires all poultry to be housed immediately. This means that chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls, partridges, pheasants, ratites, quails, ducks and geese must now be kept in closed houses or under special protective devices. These guards must have a tight cover and side barriers to prevent contact with wild birds. Exceptions are only possible with written approval from the Veterinary Supervision and Consumer Protection Department, as reported by nordkurier.de.

High danger for commercial poultry

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has classified the risk of the virus being introduced into poultry farms as high. Even small amounts of contaminated material can lead to an outbreak. The risks are particularly high near resting and gathering places, bodies of water and in areas with a high density of poultry. Hunting of game birds is temporarily prohibited in the entire affected area to prevent the virus from spreading further.

The Prignitz district has pointed out that poultry farmers must register their flocks with the veterinary office. Dead birds should not be touched; Instead, a report with a precise description of the location is important. Anyone interested can contact the responsible authorities by phone at 03876/713402 or by email at veterinaeramt@lkprignitz.de. Violations of these measures can be punished as administrative offenses.

Current spread in Germany

Bird flu is increasingly spreading in Germany. In several federal states, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, numerous animals were killed in order to contain the spread of the virus. In a poultry farm in Baden-Württemberg, 15,000 animals had to be euthanized, while in Lower Saxony over 20,500 turkeys were also killed for health reasons, as tagesschau.de reports. In total, more than 200,000 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys have already been eliminated this fall due to outbreaks.

Poultry farmers in the Prignitz district and other affected regions are called upon to adhere to special hygiene measures in order to avoid contact with wild birds. These preventions are crucial to contain the spread of the virus as quickly as possible and to ensure animal health and agricultural safety.