Bird flu danger in Northern Saxony: Poultry farmers react quickly!

Bird flu danger in Northern Saxony: Poultry farmers react quickly!

The highly contagious bird flu is currently spreading in Germany at a speed that is putting even the most experienced poultry farmers on alert. Autumn, which in nature represents bright colors, brings with it concerns about animal health this year. Outbreaks of this dreaded disease have already been reported in at least seven federal states - but not yet in Saxony and Northern Saxony. This was reported by, among others LVZ.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has classified the risk of further outbreaks in poultry farms in Germany as high. Lorenz Eskildsen, a major poultry producer, has responded to the tense circumstances by implementing extensive safety measures. These include, among other things, covered winter gardens for his geese. “This wave of bird flu is aggressive and coming quickly,” warns Eskildsen, expressing concern about the dangers that threaten not only his but the entire poultry industry.

Precautionary measures taken by poultry farmers

Organic farmer Oliver Barth from Beckwitz is particularly careful. His animals, which have a lot of space to roam, could come into contact with wild birds. He has also taken measures such as laying out disinfection mats and restricting visitor access. Around 300 geese earmarked for the Christmas season are at stake. The upcoming holidays are already casting their shadows, but first it is important to protect the animals.

In Dahlenberg, Uta and Hubert Platz have significantly reduced their populations for personal reasons, while Chris Pötzsch, the chairman of the Torgau small animal breeders' association, sees bird flu as a serious issue, but not as an acute threat. “We remain vigilant,” emphasizes Pötzsch. Some pedigree poultry clubs in the region are planning their exhibitions despite the situation, such as the pedigree poultry exhibition in Großwig on November 1st and 2nd and the exhibition of the Luppa pedigree poultry breeding association on November 8th and 9th.

The location overall

In other parts of Germany the situation looks less rosy. The federal states with high bird migration, such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony, where tens of thousands of animals had to be culled, are particularly affected. In Baden-Württemberg, 15,000 animals were killed on an affected farm, and the total number of farm animals killed due to bird flu is now over 200,000. These worrying figures are also reported by the daily news and ZDF confirmed.

Meanwhile, the Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer has called for increased protective measures to further contain the spread of the virus. Although the risk to humans is currently classified as low, caution is advised: contact with sick or dead wild birds should be avoided. Autumn not only brings colorful leaves, but also a serious challenge for poultry farmers across Germany.