Bird flu out of control: Lower Saxony on alert!

Bird flu out of control: Lower Saxony on alert!

Bird flu is spreading unchecked in Lower Saxony. Current figures show that 175,000 laying hens have to be culled in the Vechta district alone after the sixth outbreak within a week and a half was detected here. This means that a total of 365,000 animals in the district are affected, which underlines the need for strict safety measures. The Harburg district has already had to kill 13,000 geese and 26,000 ducks for quarantine reasons. For poultry farms with more than 50 animals, stables were required. Loud NDR The affected regions in Lower Saxony are extensive and include, among others, Cloppenburg, Diepholz, Emsland, Harburg, Heidekreis, Oldenburg, Rothenburg/Wümme, Stade and Vechta.

But the problem is not just limited to Lower Saxony. There are also numerous cases of avian influenza in other federal states such as Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) emphasizes that the number of outbreaks has increased again compared to 2017 and the serious epidemics of 2021 and 2022. The numbers are continually increasing, and the situation remains acute. Between the beginning of September and the end of October, around 50 outbreaks were recorded in commercial poultry farms and over 500,000 animals had to be killed as a precautionary measure.

Transmission routes and safety measures

The H5N1 virus, which is considered highly contagious, can be spread through direct contact with infected wild poultry or indirectly through contaminated objects such as footwear and feed. Experts warn against this that high hygiene requirements must be observed in order to prevent further spread. It is important for hobby owners to observe animals closely and to inform the veterinary office quickly if there are any suspected cases.

The symptoms that occur in infected animals are serious in nature and include apathy, refusal to eat, high fever, diarrhea and breathing problems. In many districts, such as Vechta, measures such as mandatory stables and observation have already been implemented. The conditions represent an enormous challenge for many poultry farmers.

Impact on the industry

The overall economic climate in the poultry market is tense: prices for duck and goose meat are likely to rise due to the culling. Farmers are hoping for appropriate compensation payments to offset the high losses. According to FLI reports, the virus is considered relatively harmless to humans, but caution is still advised. To date, there are no known human infections in Germany, and infection of pets remains the exception. At the same time, the hygiene regulations for poultry farmers must be adhered to loosely but consistently.

The current situation is serious and shows that the issue of bird flu has far-reaching consequences for agriculture and animal husbandry. Both owners and authorities must act with a watchful eye in order to protect the stables and thus the animals and to actually calm the situation.