Bird flu danger: access to the Sundische Wiese closed!

Bird flu danger: access to the Sundische Wiese closed!

Bird flu is currently spreading alarmingly in Germany. The situation is particularly tense in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where numerous dead cranes were recently discovered. For this reason, the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park Office has decided to close the Sundische Wiese, an important resting place for cranes, to visitors for the time being. These measures primarily serve to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. The ndr.de reports that the closure of the Sundische Wiese is directly related to the increased occurrence of bird flu.

The situation is serious: Since the beginning of September, 31 outbreaks have been identified in animal husbandry farms in Germany. Over 500,000 farm animals have been killed due to the highly contagious bird flu, particularly the H5N1 virus. Particularly affected are Lower Saxony with eight outbreaks as well as Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with six each dradio.de. In Western Pomerania alone, 150,000 laying hens had to be killed in order to contain the spread of the virus.

Urgent measures required

Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer explains that coordinated action by the federal and state governments is necessary to effectively combat the disease. The central association of the German poultry industry is calling on the states to act quickly and introduce stable requirements for various types of poultry in order to prevent the far-reaching consequences for the food industry. Rainer has invited the agriculture ministers of the federal states to a joint meeting to discuss the situation and coordinate measures.

According to new data from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the H5N1 virus type dominates in wild birds and has already spread to livestock poultry. A rapid increase in cases has been observed within the last two weeks, underlining the urgency of the situation zeit.de.

The impact on wildlife

Bird flu not only affects livestock, but also wild birds. Over 1,500 cranes have died in Brandenburg alone. The population appears to be robust overall, but it is crucial to take hygiene seriously and carry out tests early. In Germany, almost 200,000 farm animals have already been killed because of the disease, and the highly contagious form of the virus often leads to fatal outcomes in animals.

Although the risk to humans is considered low, there is still a possibility of infection, especially through direct contact with a high amount of virus. Since bird flu is transmitted through respiratory droplets and feces, everyone is advised to avoid wild birds in affected regions. Over 2,000 cranes have already died in Germany, and it remains unclear why mortality is so high zeit.de.

During this critical period, it is important to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to further contain the spread of the dangerous virus.