Bird flu in Germany: Why Central Saxony has to be careful now!

Bird flu in Germany: Why Central Saxony has to be careful now!

Bird flu is currently making a big splash in Germany. The number of cases is increasing rapidly and there is also reason for caution in Central Saxony, even though no infections have been documented here yet. As sächsische.de reports, the veterinary office is closely monitoring the situation and is in communication with local poultry farmers.

Dr. Markus Richter, head of the food control and veterinary office (Lüva) department in the Central Saxony district office, recommends that owners take their animals to safe stables. There are a total of around 5,830 poultry farmers and keepers in the region who are now called upon to pay greater attention to hygiene and preventive measures.

The spread of avian influenza

However, bird flu continues to spread in Germany and Europe. In federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, 15,000 animals from a poultry farm have already had to be killed. Tens of thousands of cranes have also fallen victim to the virus. According to estimates, around 2,000 cranes died during migration in Germany alone. These dramatic numbers are no coincidence, because according to ZDF, the risk of further outbreaks is classified by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) as high.

In Lower Saxony, too, over 200,000 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys had to be killed due to outbreaks. Cranes and large poultry farms are particularly affected. The Tagesschau points out that bird flu is widespread in Germany all year round, but is particularly severe with the early autumn bird migration.

What to do if you come into contact with wild birds?

There is currently no increased risk of serious illnesses for the population, but it is advised to avoid contact with dead or sick birds. Poultry farmers should strictly follow hygiene instructions. Private individuals are also requested to report observations of dead wild birds to the responsible authorities.

Doctors also recommend seasonal flu vaccination for people who have regular contact with poultry to prevent possible double infections. In the future, the EU could also increase the upper limit for compensation payments in order to support the affected owners.

It remains to be hoped that those responsible can keep the situation under control and the spread can be further contained. Whether and how the situation in Central Saxony will develop remains to be seen. However, Lüva remains vigilant and calls for cooperation between authorities and poultry farmers to ensure we all stay safe.