Bird flu strikes: cranes affected in Waldeck-Frankenberg!

Bird flu strikes: cranes affected in Waldeck-Frankenberg!

Bird flu has now also arrived in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district. As the Hessian/Lower Saxony General reported today, the virus was detected in three dead cranes at Lake Twiste. This confirmation comes from the renowned Friedrich Loeffler Institute and comes at a time when bird flu is spreading rapidly in Germany.

In order to stop the spread of the virus, the district administration has already issued a general order. These measures include the obligation toHousing of domestic poultry, which means that all poultry farms must keep their animals in closed stables. In addition, poultry-related events are prohibited until further notice. The obligation to keep animals indoors is an important measure to contain the animal disease.

Safety measures and recommendations

The general order also provides for strict security measures. Access to stables is only permitted with protective clothing, and there are clear requirements for regular cleaning and disinfection of protective clothing and equipment. Feeding of animals must be secured to prevent wild birds from accessing feed. All poultry farms in Waldeck-Frankenberg must also be registered with the district.

This current spread is not isolated. Loud daily news Massive outbreaks have now also been observed in other federal states, such as Baden-Württemberg. 15,000 animals have already been killed in a poultry farm there. Thousands of cranes have also died, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

A far-reaching problem

Overall, health authorities have noted an increase in bird flu infections in Germany. The federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony are particularly affected. The Bavarian Review adds that bird flu is caused by the highly contagious virus HPAIV (H5N1) and is often fatal for birds.

In view of the dramatic situation, the Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer has called for increased protective measures. There is a high risk for agriculture. The aim of the measures is to prevent the spread of the virus and at the same time prevent damage to agriculture.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has now upgraded the risk of further outbreaks to “high”. Seasonal changes in particular, such as autumn bird migration, promote the spread of this highly contagious disease. This year the numbers of affected cranes are particularly worrying.

Although there is currently no increased risk of serious illnesses for the population, the authorities recommend avoiding contact with sick or dead wild birds and reporting any findings if necessary. A seasonal flu vaccination for people who have frequent contact with poultry could also be useful.

In these turbulent times, it is important to be vigilant and take appropriate protective measures to stop the spread of avian influenza among both wild and domestic poultry and minimize health risks to wildlife and agriculture.