Virus danger from bird migration: 400,000 farm animals already culled!

Virus danger from bird migration: 400,000 farm animals already culled!

The word “bogeyman” is increasingly being used in connection with avian influenza. While bird migration is in full swing, animal owners and poultry farmers in Germany have to sit up and take notice. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) is sounding the alarm because the number of birds dying from the dreaded avian influenza is increasing dramatically. President Christa Kühn urgently warns of high virus pressure, especially from infected wild birds. The advice is clear: rest areas should be avoided, animals should not be startled and dead birds should not be touched.

The wave of infections started surprisingly early this year, and around 400,000 farm animals have already been killed in Germany. Chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys are particularly affected, while the economic damage runs into the millions. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania alone, almost 150,000 laying hens had to give way to the virus, and 130,000 animals are also affected in the Märkisch-Oderland district in Brandenburg. Thuringia, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, but also North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg also record numerous killings of animals for precautionary reasons. Lippewelle reports that many breeders will have to follow an impending price increase.

Bird flu and its transmission

The FLI explains that the avian influenza pathogen occurs primarily in wild waterfowl, without them becoming ill themselves. However, they can still transmit the virus through their feces. Infections occur through feces of infected birds that come into play via water or moist mud. Birds of prey are not exempt either, as they can become infected by eating the carrion of sick animals. The H5N1 virus is particularly important here, as it is responsible for numerous deaths in birds. NDR has analyzed that symptoms in domestic animals range from lethargy to shortness of breath, and chickens and turkeys in particular are most affected.

But it's not just the animals themselves that are the focus of attention. Transmission of the virus to humans appears to pose a low risk so far, although a few isolated cases have been reported, mostly through contact with infected chickens. According to WHO, the WHO acts preventatively and has documented 464 deaths from H5N1 worldwide since 2003, but so far no people in Germany have been affected. The risk of human-to-human transmission therefore remains an issue for science.

Preventive measures for poultry farmers

To minimize the spread of the virus, poultry farmers should severely limit contact between their animals and wild waterfowl. The FLI recommends setting up restricted areas and observation areas around places where diseased wild birds are found in order to further reduce the risk. There are increasing calls for a nationwide housing requirement in order to protect poultry from free-range farming. In this context, it is thought-provoking that there are no measures to immunize poultry in Germany, even if exceptions can be made in emergencies in other EU member states.

Although the situation is serious, it remains important to clearly communicate the facts about bird flu. By taking appropriate hygiene measures and avoiding contact with wild birds, the risk of infection can be significantly reduced. With this clear advice, it is hoped that poultry farming in Germany will not be further endangered, even with the upcoming slaughter seasons. Clarification and attention in these critical times are of the utmost importance, also for the future of animal breeding in Germany.