Compulsory stables in the Meißen district: Shock about an outbreak of avian influenza!

Compulsory stables in the Meißen district: Shock about an outbreak of avian influenza!

Since Monday, there has been a strict obligation to keep poultry in the Meißen district in order to combat avian influenza (H5N1). The pathogen was detected in Ebersbach, which prompted the district office to take these measures. The aim is to prevent the further spread of the virus, which is considered extremely contagious and has led to massive losses among poultry farmers in the past. MDR reports that the stable requirement applies to all herds of 50 animals or more and was laid down in a general decree.

However, the veterinary office recommends not keeping even smaller populations outdoors in order to minimize any risk. Exhibitions and markets with live poultry are prohibited in the district until further notice. At the same time, a protection zone with a radius of three kilometers was set up around the affected company. No poultry, poultry meat or eggs may be brought out within this zone. There is also a monitoring zone with a radius of ten kilometers, which includes, among others, the communities of Radeburg, Großenhain, Weinböhla and Moritzburg. Saxon reports about the details of the protection zone and the associated strict requirements for poultry farmers.

Poultry farmers on alert

The threat of avian influenza has increased significantly, particularly in autumn 2025. The reports from the Friedrich Löffler Institute (FLI) show that several outbreaks have been registered in Germany in recent weeks. Wild birds, especially cranes, are also affected. RND provides further information about symptoms and precautionary measures. This affects numerous federal states, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony, where over 500,000 birds have already had to be killed in order to contain the disease.

The affected companies, including Großenhainer Geflugelhof GmbH, have taken comprehensive protective measures. Nevertheless, Saxony's association head Christian Riedel expresses his discomfort with the existential fears that are now plaguing poultry farmers. Hopes rest on other businesses such as Hofgut Kaltenbach or the Eskildsen goose farm that they will be spared from the epidemic.

The general decree on the obligation to keep stables also entails a number of obligations for farmers, such as the obligation to notify livestock farms, a ban on movements and strict hygiene measures. This is all necessary to prevent infection through direct or indirect contact with infected wild birds. Wild birds are the main carriers of the virus, which is why hobbyists and all pet owners are urged to take special precautions.

It remains to be seen how the situation will develop further. One thing is certain: poultry farmers in the region are facing a challenge that not only endangers their livestock, but also their livelihoods.