Avian influenza is getting out of hand: mandatory stables are spreading across the country!

Avian influenza is getting out of hand: mandatory stables are spreading across the country!

Avian influenza continues to spread and is causing worrying developments in Germany. Current reports of daily outbreaks show that the highly pathogenic variant H5N1 is rampant in several federal states. The federal states of Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Thuringia and Lower Saxony are particularly affected, where extensive stable requirements have already been imposed to protect poultry. How Poultry News Reportedly, more than 155,000 animals had to be killed in Brandenburg alone.

Many districts in northern and eastern Germany have already taken measures on the front line of combating this disease. In Saxony-Anhalt, stables are mandatory in, among other places, the city of Magdeburg and the districts of Stendal and Börde. In Saarland, a stable requirement will also come into effect from October 30th after eleven wild birds there tested positive. Lower Saxony is not left out; the county of Bentheim has imposed a stable requirement, and the Diepholz district is confronted with a new suspected case.

The situation in the federal states

The case of avian influenza has reached devastating proportions in Germany. In many counties, poultry farmers now have to keep their animals indoors. In Brandenburg, stable requirements are in force almost everywhere, although there are exceptions in Oberspreewald-Lausitz. For this purpose, the killing of animals on affected farms is considered necessary in order to prevent the disease from spreading further.

• Sachsen-Anhalt: Stallpflicht in verschiedenen Landkreisen.
• Brandenburg: Massive Tötungen in 13 von 14 Landkreisen; über 155.000 Tiere betroffen.
• Thüringen: Stallpflicht in mehreren Städten.
• Saarland: Stallpflicht tritt am 30. Oktober in Kraft.
• Niedersachsen: Grafschaft Bentheim hat Stallpflicht erlassen; Verdachtsfall im Landkreis Diepholz.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute reports an alarming picture: Since the beginning of September, more than 35 outbreaks have been registered in commercial poultry farms nationwide. Over 500,000 animals have already been killed as a precaution to contain the infection. Wild birds are particularly affected; Around 2,000 carcasses were collected in Brandenburg, many of which tested positive for the dangerous H5N1 virus.

Public health and responses

On the political side, there are many calls for more comprehensive measures. The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry has called for a nationwide “housing requirement” to ensure a uniform approach. The Federal Veterinary Association is also committed to financial support and the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles. These political efforts are extremely urgent, especially since violations of the stable requirement can be punished with fines of up to 30,000 euros.

However, some questions remain unanswered: What will the situation look like in the coming weeks? Will other federal states follow suit and impose stable requirements? The dynamics of the outbreaks make it clear that a watchful eye is needed to contain the spread of avian influenza and protect the domestic poultry industry.

Initially, the hope remains that the measures taken and increased awareness among all those involved will lead to the containment of avian influenza. The hardships that both animals and farmers have to endure cannot be underestimated, and it remains to be hoped that the situation can stabilize soon. Everyday life for poultry farmers is currently a challenge that requires good hands and solid decisions.