Bird flu in Hesse: red alert – mandatory stables for districts

Bird flu in Hesse: red alert – mandatory stables for districts

Bird flu is currently spreading rapidly in Hesse and is causing serious concern for the authorities. More than ten counties have now reported cases of bird flu in dead birds. In total, infected animals have been discovered in 13 of 21 districts in Hesse, with daily reports of new cases, often in wild animals such as cranes migrating south, underlining the urgency of the situation. According to hessenschau.de there are already 35 documented locations where the Friedrich Loeffler Institute has found positive tests for bird flu in wild birds.

Strict requirements apply in the affected districts to contain the spread of the virus. In Groß-Gerau, Gießen, Limburg-Weilburg, Marburg-Biedenkopf, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Kassel and Wetteraukreis, poultry must be kept in stables. There are also partial stable requirements in the districts of Bergstrasse, Darmstadt-Dieburg, Bad Hersfeld and Schwalm-Eder. Any violation of these regulations can be punished with fines of up to 30,000 euros.

Protective measures for poultry farming

Although Hesse has not yet recorded any cases in a poultry farm, the situation is tense. In the event of an infection, there could be massive killing operations in affected companies. There are now 35 outbreaks registered in commercial poultry farming throughout Germany, including the killing of 155,000 animals in Brandenburg. The bird flu, caused by the HPAIV (H5N1) virus, not only poses a great danger to domestic poultry, but can also be potentially dangerous to humans, which is why []TAGESSCHAU.de](https://www.tagesschau.de/wissen/faq-vogelgrippe-ausbruch-100.html) advises avoiding contact with wild birds and reporting dead animals.

The Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer has once again called for increased protective measures. The federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony are currently particularly affected, where tens of thousands of animals have already had to be killed. In Baden-Württemberg alone the number of animals killed was 15,000. These massive measures are based on the need to stop the spread of the virus and minimize damage to agriculture.

Instructions for the population

We appeal to all pet owners and their responsibilities resulting from this situation to strictly adhere to hygiene measures. One thing is certain: bird flu is an issue that concerns us all. While contact with sick or dead wild birds should be avoided at all costs, it is important to protect your own animals if necessary and to be vigilant. So far there is no acute risk of serious illnesses for the population, but increased attention is required.

The above measures are part of a comprehensive plan to get the situation under control and ensure that animal populations in the affected districts are not further endangered. The public is asked to adhere to authorities' instructions and monitor the situation closely while authorities work on solutions.