Köhlbrand Bridge closed: Bird flu endangers Hamburg's wild birds!

Köhlbrand Bridge closed: Bird flu endangers Hamburg's wild birds!

In Hamburg, especially on the Köhlbrand Bridge, the bird flu situation is becoming extremely worrying. On Saturday morning, the 3,618 meter long bridge had to be closed briefly after a dead bird, in this case a seagull, was discovered on the road. The suspicion of bird flu led to the police and fire brigade reacting quickly. A firefighter in protective clothing took care of removing the dead bird, which was carefully disposed of in a blue plastic bag. This procedure is part of the increased vigilance that is necessary due to the nationwide spread of the virus, as Bild reports.

But the warnings never end. Bird flu is spreading unchecked in Germany, and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute has repeatedly pointed out the increased number of infections. Since September, hundreds of thousands of poultry have had to be killed for health reasons. The situation shows how acute the problem is, especially in Baden-Württemberg, where 15,000 animals on a poultry farm were affected. Researchers are also warning of a new variant of the virus that may have the ability to adapt to humans. Against this background, it is particularly important not to touch dead birds and to report any findings immediately in order to prevent possible transmission Spiegel clarifies.

Additional protective measures

Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer has called for increased protective measures nationwide in view of the dramatic increase in cases. In regions with strong bird migration - including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony - temporary protection zones with strict regulations now apply. Private individuals are advised to avoid contact with wild birds and to inform themselves about the rules for combating the virus.

Bird flu is present in Germany all year round, but reaches new levels with autumn and bird migration. The danger should not be underestimated: Over 200,000 farm animals were killed this fall due to infected herds. Agricultural standstill could also be a consequence of these events, which has led the authorities to increase compensation payments to the EU for affected farms. The applications currently being submitted aim to increase compensation from 50 euros to up to 110 euros per culled animal in order to help agriculture, as Tagesschau notes.

In this critical situation, it remains essential that both pet owners and the general public are aware of the dangers. In particular, contact with sick or dead wild birds should be avoided to prevent the virus from spreading. Any discovery of such animals should be reported directly to the relevant authorities. This is the only way we can work together to contain the spread of bird flu and protect the health of people and animals.