Compulsory stables in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district: bird flu alert!

Compulsory stables in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district: bird flu alert!

From Monday, November 3rd, poultry will be required to have stables in the entire Darmstadt-Dieburg district. This means that the animals are no longer allowed to be kept outdoors. This measure was taken due to the increasing number of bird flu cases in neighboring counties and an increase in dead waterfowl and wild birds in the county itself. Previously, only a partial stable requirement was in force, which is now being expanded to prevent the virus from spreading further. First district councilor Lutz Köhler emphasizes the urgency of action to keep the situation under control FFH reports that ....

Poultry farmers in the region are concerned because bird flu is an issue that affects many people across the country. More than 200,000 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys have already been killed in Germany to curb the rapid spread of avian influenza. Experts like Georg Heitlinger from the State Association of the Poultry Industry in Baden-Württemberg are calling for a nationwide requirement for stables. The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry also warns of possible supply bottlenecks for eggs and poultry meat, which is why measures are urgently needed Tagesschau reports that ....

Nationwide spread and measures

The stable requirement is already in force in many other districts in Hesse. The Vogelsbergkreis was among the first to issue this general decree. Other affected districts are Groß-Gerau, Gießen, Limburg-Weilburg, Marburg-Biedenkopf, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Kassel and Wetteraukreis. No cases of bird flu have been reported in the entire Darmstadt-Dieburg district area, but the situation is tense as the virus is also spreading in society MDR reports that ....

Bird flu is a highly contagious disease that quickly kills many species of birds and poultry. The virus used to be more seasonally active, but there is now evidence all year round. Current estimates from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute indicate that bird flu has reached unprecedented levels this year. In recent months, cases of infection have been detected in 50 poultry farms nationwide, with 26 cases being registered last October alone.

Economic consequences and outlook

The economic impact cannot be underestimated. German poultry farmers fear that, despite the mass killings, massive price fluctuations are not to be expected. ZDG President Hans-Peter Goldnick is optimistic: “Short-term price explosions are unlikely.” The majority of geese consumed in Germany are imported, which could further compensate for the situation. Around 20 percent of the geese eaten come from domestic production MDR adds that ....

The current situation requires, above all, responsible action and support for poultry farmers. The coming weeks will show whether the measures taken are sufficient to contain the spread of bird flu and stabilize poultry production in the region.