Crane tragedy in Saxony-Anhalt: thousands die of bird flu!

Crane tragedy in Saxony-Anhalt: thousands die of bird flu!

There are currently rumblings in Saxony-Anhalt: thousands of cranes have died from the dreaded bird flu, and that is not without consequences. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) reports that the situation remains acute and the number of cases continues to rise. This autumn in particular we are recording an unprecedented number of dead cranes. It is estimated that around 2,000 birds were recovered, although the actual number may be twice that. Ornithologist Axel Schonert describes this tragedy as a historical dimension that cannot be ignored. Tagesschau reports that ...

The H5N1 bird flu is currently spreading rapidly through Germany, primarily through bird migration. Several federal states are affected, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In Brandenburg alone, over 1,000 cranes lost their lives in a bird sanctuary. This sets off alarm bells! Deutschlandfunk reports that ...

Criticism of industrial poultry farming

Schonert criticizes the close connection between wild birds and industrial poultry farming, which could possibly be seen as a cause of the spread. Aggressive virus variants are emerging in large poultry farms, and manure from these facilities could act as a vector for cranes and geese. The latest analyzes also indicate connections between crane deaths and outbreaks in Polish poultry farms.

What happens now? Schonert is calling for a nationwide requirement for poultry to be kept in stables as an immediate measure to counteract further outbreaks. In addition, the stable manure should be examined for pathogens before it is spread on fields. These steps could be crucial to defuse the situation and protect the still healthy stocks.

Measures taken by the authorities

The risk of infection is not only high for cranes; Poultry farmers also need to protect themselves well. By the end of October, around 400,000 chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys had been culled across the country to prevent further spread. There are strict requirements: Animal populations must be closed for 21 days after outbreaks, and safety zones must be set up with a radius of three and ten kilometers. In any case, rapid tests must be carried out by veterinarians and positive samples must be forwarded immediately to the veterinary offices and the FLI. Deutschlandfunk knows that...

And what about the people? According to virologist Martin Beer, there is currently no major risk of secondary spread of the H5N1 virus between poultry farms, but the virus in its aggressive form is a dangerous threat to poultry and wild birds. The risk of infection continues to be closely monitored.

The following applies to the population: do not touch dead or sick birds, NABU appeals, and stay informed, because the situation is developing quickly. In such a climate spirit, everyone is asked to pay attention to nature and keep themselves informed.