Bird flu alarm: chicken farming in Lower Saxony massively affected!

Bird flu alarm: chicken farming in Lower Saxony massively affected!

There's a lot going on in Lower Saxony: the outbreak of bird flu is becoming ever larger. A new case has recently become known in Vechta, where a chicken farm with around 38,000 laying hens is affected. Loud NDR The affected animals were killed for health reasons after the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) confirmed avian influenza. But that's not all: In the nearby Rotenburg district, around 44,000 animals from two broiler farms also had to go.

To prevent the spread of the virus, protection zones of at least 3 kilometers and surveillance zones of at least 10 kilometers have been established in the affected areas. These measures affect numerous companies and farmers. In total, over 30 outbreaks of bird flu have been registered since mid-October, resulting in the killing or death of almost 840,000 animals in Lower Saxony.

Authorities react quickly

The responsible authorities and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture have also decided to grant an exemption to shoot sick cranes in the Stade and Verden districts until the end of December and the end of January, respectively. This is intended to avoid further suffering for the animals. A critical eye is also being cast on the stables that have become necessary in over 20 districts, especially in the Cloppenburg district. More than 2,257 poultry farms with a total of over 12.3 million animals are listed there, further increasing the focus of the crisis.

In addition, a general decree was issued in the Heidekreis district stating that wild birds with symptoms may only be killed after telephone approval. In agriculture, there is ongoing criticism of the animal disease policy and factory farming by the state commissioner for animal protection. She points out that the virus can spread through contaminated footwear and equipment.

Public informed

An appeal goes out to all people who live with wild birds or near poultry: the safety measures must be followed. Although the virus is considered harmless to humans, they can still be carriers and promote the spread. Visitors to zoos don't have to fear any restrictions for the time being - everything stays the same here.

Amid these challenges, there are opportunities in other areas, such as construction in Brooksville, to take a look at certain administrative processes. The Building Division The City of Brooksville is responsible for building applications and inspections, a process that is well structured and follows clear guidelines. A look at the search function in the portal can clarify fees and important documents for the applications.

This combination of agricultural crisis and administrative processes shows how diverse the challenges are for authorities, farmers and the general public. This makes it all the more important to remain vigilant and scrupulously adhere to all regulations, be it in poultry farming or in construction.