Red alert in Lower Saxony: 140,000 birds culled because of bird flu!

Red alert in Lower Saxony: 140,000 birds culled because of bird flu!

In the shadow of bird flu, there is currently a lot of simmering in Lower Saxony. Today Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte spoke out and reported a shocking 140,000 birds killed this year. Of these, around 70,000 animals are from the current October, which poses huge challenges for people in the affected regions. The situation is so serious that Staudte suggested keeping affected stables temporarily empty to slow the spread of the virus. In Lower Saxony, various districts, including Gifhorn, are already affected and have taken measures to counteract bird flu.

But what about compensation? Animal owners currently only receive a maximum of 50 euros per animal killed. Half of this sum is borne by the state and the Lower Saxony Animal Disease Fund. But that could change: the federal government is planning an increase to up to 110 euros. “A nationwide requirement for stables is not a panacea,” said Staudte, as there have been recent outbreaks in stables.

Outbreaks and Dangers

However, the spread of bird flu is not a phenomenon limited to Lower Saxony. An increased spread of the animal disease is being detected throughout Germany and beyond. For example, 15,000 animals were culled in a poultry farm in Baden-Württemberg. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has upgraded the risk of further outbreaks to “high,” especially during the fall when the birds are migrating south.

In total, there are already 29 outbreaks among wild birds in Germany. The cranes, which travel in large numbers, are severely affected. According to estimates, around 2,000 cranes have already died during bird migration in Germany. In Lower Saxony, the Cloppenburg district is also particularly affected, with seven confirmed cases and a worrying number of poultry farms - in 2024 there were 2,257 farms with around 12.3 million animals.

Rules of conduct for the population

There is currently no increased risk for consumers of becoming infected through poultry, as the H5N1 virus is killed at a preparation temperature of over 70 degrees Celsius. However, you should still adhere to common hygiene rules when preparing poultry. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute recommends avoiding bird resting places, not touching dead wild birds and keeping a distance from conspicuous wild birds. According to the institute, people need to pay attention to the risks because the virus can be spread through contact with contaminated material even without direct infection.

Poultry farmers themselves are under pressure to protect their animals from wild birds in order to prevent the virus from spreading quickly. There is a general belief among the population that the consequences of bird flu could also lead to increases in the price of goose and duck meat. With the killings in Lower Saxony and elsewhere, demand could soon drive up prices.

Overall, the risk to the population is low, but all precautionary measures should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. The animal disease must be taken seriously, especially for livestock farms that suffer from the consequences.