Red alert: Bird flu is spreading rapidly in Germany!

Red alert: Bird flu is spreading rapidly in Germany!

In a worrying trend, bird flu, known as avian influenza, is spreading rapidly in Germany. Waterfowl such as wild geese, which are frequent carriers of the virus, are particularly affected. According to a report by WDR There are two main variants of the virus: those that cause less illness (low pathogenicity) and those that cause severe illness (highly pathogenic ones). These latter forms can lead to serious illnesses in domestic poultry, which are often fatal.

Current cases in Essen and Rees indicate an increased spread. The highly pathogenic variant has an impact on poultry populations, which is why farmers and poultry farmers are being asked to immediately adhere to strict hygiene rules. This is intended to help prevent infection between domestic poultry and wild birds.

High losses in agriculture

Around 200,000 animals have already been killed in Germany due to bird flu outbreaks, including 15,000 in the same poultry farm in Baden-Württemberg. In Lower Saxony, too, 20,500 turkeys had to be culled. Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer has called on farmers to take increased protective measures, especially during the autumn bird migration, when the risk of infection increases.

The Federal Ministry has even asked the EU to increase the compensation limit for culled animals from 50 euros to 110 euros in order to cushion the financial losses of those affected. Outbreaks have demonstrably increased sharply, especially in the federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg. Cranes are also affected, with estimates of around 2,000 birds dead.

A risk factor for the population?

Although there is no increased risk for the population of suffering from serious illnesses from bird flu, experts advise avoiding contact with sick or dead birds. The seasonal flu vaccination is particularly recommended for people who come into frequent contact with poultry. Previous analyzes indicate that transmission of the virus through poultry products is generally possible, but has not been proven.

The outbreak of the HPAIV (H5N1) virus has increased the risk of further outbreaks to “high”, as confirmed by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. It remains important for laypeople to be vigilant and report suspicious cases to the relevant authorities.

Containment measures

The recommendations for poultry farmers are clear: hygiene measures must be strictly adhered to. Private hobby owners should also be aware of the dangers and avoid contact with wild birds. Herd protection is at the top of the list of preventative measures. There are also vaccines against bird flu, but they can only be used under certain conditions.

In times like these, it is important that the population stays informed and follows the recommendations of experts to limit the spread of this serious infectious disease. Loud daily news Numerous outbreaks have already been recorded and attention remains focused on the situation in the affected regions.