Bird flu is spreading: compulsory stables imposed in seven districts!

Bird flu is spreading: compulsory stables imposed in seven districts!

Bird flu is spreading rapidly in Saxony-Anhalt. The authorities in seven districts and independent cities have currently imposed a requirement for poultry to be kept in stables. These measures affect the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, the Börde district, the Harz district, the Jerichower Land district, the Mansfeld-Südharz district, the Stendal district and the city of Magdeburg. The reason for these drastic measures are confirmed infections with the dangerous H5N1 virus, which has caused several dead wild birds, especially cranes. At the Kelbra reservoir alone, over 1,500 dead cranes were collected, whose deaths are officially attributed to the virus, as Borkener Zeitung reports.

A particularly drastic step is being taken in the Mansfeld-Südharz district: around 40,000 laying hens in an affected farm have to be killed after suspicion of bird flu was expressed. The responsible veterinary office has ordered the killing and a specialist company has been commissioned to carry it out. The obligation to keep animals in stables is not only intended to protect the animals, but also to contain the spread of the virus.

Regional state of emergency

A state of emergency has already been declared in several districts. In Jerichower Land, a stable requirement was spontaneously imposed after the virus was detected in two dead cranes. A warning was also issued in the Drömling Biosphere Reserve asking the population to exercise extreme caution. This shows once again that avian influenza must be taken seriously not only for health reasons, but also for economic reasons.

Infection occurs both through direct contact with infected birds and indirectly through contaminated objects or water sources. Waterfowl such as geese and ducks are particularly affected, as their mobility makes it difficult to keep away from other animals. Costantin Schwab from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) reported that the outbreak is particularly early and intense this year, which is worrying farmers. In other federal states, such as Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, over 500,000 birds have already been killed to stop the spread, as Volksstimme adds.

Precautions and outlook

Let's stay on our guard: There are clear recommendations for hobby farmers and poultry farmers. This includes securing food and bedding from wild birds, avoiding direct contact and regularly disinfecting shoes and hands. Typical symptoms of the disease include apathy, refusal to eat, high fever and breathing problems in the animals. This information comes from the report by RND.

Current developments are being followed closely and containment is urgently needed, because with rising egg prices, which according to reports from Volksstimme could rise to up to 3.50 euros per pack, the signals are not so good. It remains to be seen what further measures the authorities will take to get bird influenza under control.