Alarm in the Diepholz district: cranes are suffering from bird flu!

Alarm in the Diepholz district: cranes are suffering from bird flu!

The bird flu is currently causing worried faces in Lower Saxony. The Diepholz district is particularly badly affected, where several dead cranes were recently reported. To be sure, samples were taken from these animals to test for the virus. The district administration points out that due to the migration of birds from northeast to southwest Europe, further sick and dead animals are to be expected. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, a citizen hotline was set up at 05441 976-2030 throughout the week to receive information about sick or dead birds. People are strongly warned to avoid contact with dead wild birds and to report the locations by email to minimize the health risk.

The current situation shows how dynamically the situation can develop. Confirmed evidence of bird flu was recently found in the Gifhorn district, which led to the introduction of compulsory housing for poultry. This applies from Saturday and affects both private and commercial animal husbandries throughout the district. According to diepholz.de, it has been determined that recent outbreaks are mainly caused by migratory birds, which can transmit the virus over long distances.

Stables are mandatory in several districts

At a glance: For the first time this year, Lower Saxony has imposed a district-wide requirement for poultry to be kept in stables. This situation must be taken seriously as the measures are necessary to contain the spread of the disease. In the presence of the Friedrich Löffler Institute, several cases of avian influenza have already been identified in the districts of Cloppenburg, Diepholz, Gifhorn and Nienburg. The various outbreaks involve over 100,000 animals affected, many of which were killed in accordance with animal welfare standards and disposed of harmlessly, as reported on verbraucherzentrale-niedersachsen.de.

Precautions and recommendations

Farmers and poultry farmers in the affected districts must adhere to strict safety regulations in order to protect the health of people and animals. These include, for example, reporting obligations for kept and dead animals as well as bans on the transport and sale of poultry. Special hygiene measures are recommended to avoid contact with potentially infected animals. Caution is also advised when preparing poultry and egg products. They must be cooked thoroughly to eliminate any viral loads. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment makes it clear that transmission of the virus via food is theoretically possible, but unlikely.

The risk of humans contracting bird flu is currently considered low. The Friedrich Löffler Institute has not yet confirmed any H5N1 cases in Germany. Nevertheless, everyone who comes into contact with poultry should follow general hygiene rules and report sick or dead birds immediately to prevent the disease from spreading further.

The lay reports about the fatal cases and the corresponding education are important in order to inform the public about the current developments. Stay informed and act responsibly to protect yourself and others.