Bird flu in MV: Protection and surveillance zones drastically expanded!

Bird flu in MV: Protection and surveillance zones drastically expanded!

These days, bird flu has come back into the spotlight and is causing excitement in some German regions, particularly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Avian influenza, which was officially diagnosed in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, now also affects a farm in Sassen-Trantow with around 28,000 animals. As if that wasn't enough, there was a positive test for the highly efficient H5N1 virus from the neighboring Uckermark district in Brandenburg. The situation is alarming and authorities have immediately expanded protection and surveillance zones to prevent further damage. The affected communities extend across Sassen-Trantow, Loitz, Dersekow, Levenhagen, Dargelin, Görmin, Bentzin and Tutow, as NDR reports.

This dynamic spread of bird flu is particularly worrying as hundreds of wild birds, including many cranes, have died from the virus. Between the beginning of September and mid-October alone, several outbreaks of H5N1 were registered in Germany, especially in the federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Brandenburg. Over 500,000 domestic and wild birds have already been killed to stop the spread of the virus, according to RND.

Comprehensive measures ordered

The authorities have imposed an immediate housing requirement in the affected zones, which means that poultry keepers must keep their animals in closed stables or aviaries that are safe for wild birds. This also applies to farms with more than 5,000 animals throughout the district. The stable requirement particularly affects regions near water, and participants in poultry exhibitions and markets are asked to cancel their events. The situation is also complicated by current bird migration, which promotes the exchange of viruses between wild birds and farm poultry, as Deutschlandfunk describes.

Companies not only have to keep their animals safe, but also meet requirements such as reporting the number, location and type of use. Protection zones with a radius of three kilometers around the sources of infection and monitoring zones of ten kilometers have also been set up. These strict regulations are intended to ensure that the virus does not spread any further and that the food supply is not endangered.

Symptoms and precautionary measures for owners

Cranes are particularly affected, as they already have high mortality rates in Brandenburg. But the virus is also passed on to other wild birds, which makes the situation dramatic. Owners should monitor their animals closely and immediately inform the veterinary office if any suspected cases occur. Typical symptoms include apathy, refusal to eat, high fever and breathing problems. Anyone who has animals should take some important precautionary measures: avoid direct contact with wild birds, keep food and bedding out of reach, and keep stables in good condition, as the RND recommends.

Bird flu is a serious problem and authorities are calling for rapid and coordinated action to stop the spread of the virus and protect the health of animals and people. With a series of strict safety measures and the willingness to react quickly, we are trying to get the virus under control and protect the population as best as possible.