Bird flu is spreading: mandatory stables imposed in Magdeburg!

Bird flu is spreading: mandatory stables imposed in Magdeburg!

Bird flu has been making big waves in Germany in the last few weeks. The city of Magdeburg is particularly affected, where a serious ban came into force due to a proven case of the avian influenza virus in a wild bird. The city has issued a general decree that requires all poultry farmers in the entire city to have stables. This means that poultry must now be kept in closed houses or in special devices that keep wild birds out. According to n-tv this regulation applies until revoked.

The stable requirement was imposed after similar regulations had already been issued in other regions of Saxony-Anhalt. The city of Dessau had already reacted to suspected cases of avian influenza and the first confirmed cases of the disease in the Mansfeld-Südharz district. Avian influenza is known to be a highly contagious disease that is often fatal, especially in birds and poultry.

Spread of the virus

But Magdeburg is not the only hotspot. Bird flu is spreading rapidly in Germany and throughout Europe. An example from Baden-Württemberg shows the drama of the situation: 15,000 animals had to be killed in a poultry farm there. In total, over 200,000 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys have already been killed this autumn due to outbreaks, as zdf reports.

The high death rate among cranes is particularly alarming. It is estimated that around 2,000 cranes have already died during bird migration in Germany, while over 1,000 dead cranes have been collected in northern Brandenburg. The situation is considered serious and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute has raised the risk of further outbreaks to “high”.

Prevention measures

Authorities recommend avoiding contact with dead birds to prevent possible virus spread. In addition, discoveries of dead birds should be reported immediately. In many federal states, adapted hygiene now applies, and pets must also be kept on a leash to prevent the virus from spreading further.

Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer emphasizes the urgency of stopping the spread of the virus and protecting animals. Measures are also being taken in Bavaria to secure the poultry population and contain infections. Bird flu was detected in a goose fattening farm in Simbach, and drastic measures were taken here too.

While bird flu is a serious problem, there is currently no significant risk of serious illness from the virus for the population. Nevertheless, all precautionary measures should be observed to contain the spread of the animal disease.