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Bird flu in the Rhine-Palatinate district: animal owners urgently warned!
The bird flu virus H5N1 was detected in wild birds in the Rhine-Palatinate district. The veterinary office warns of the risk of infection.
Bird flu in the Rhine-Palatinate district: animal owners urgently warned!
In the Rhine-Palatinate district, bird flu (subtype H5N1) is currently causing worried faces. On October 20th, a dead Canada goose was discovered at Silbersee in Bobenheim-Roxheim, which set alarm bells ringing. The Rhineland-Palatinate State Investigation Office immediately identified suspicions, which were later confirmed by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. Fortunately, no commercial poultry has to be culled in the Rhine-Palatinate district, as it is only a wild bird the Rhine Palatinate reported.
Nevertheless, caution is advised. The veterinary office has urgently pointed out the increased risk of infection for domestic and commercial poultry and is calling on owners to take detailed protective measures. In another alarming development, a suspected case became known in the Southern Wine Route, where ten geese were reported dead to a private animal keeper in Edenkoben. The first samples revealed an infection with the H5 virus.
Overall picture of the bird flu situation
The situation is not only worrying locally, but also affects other regions in Rhineland-Palatinate. Loud SWR currently Further cases, including a dead crane in the Rhein-Lahn district, were confirmed by the state investigation office. There are also suspected cases in neighboring districts, such as Southwest Palatinate and Kaiserslautern. What is particularly worrying is the news that bird flu is spreading rapidly and new suspected cases are emerging every day.
Markus Böhl, President of the LUA, expects an increase in cases in the coming weeks. Fortunately, no outbreaks have been identified in local poultry farms so far, unlike in Baden-Württemberg, where the situation is more critical. Veterinary authorities are in constant contact and exchange about dead wild birds in order to nip potential outbreaks in the bud.
Recommended protective measures
To prevent the virus from spreading to domestic and commercial poultry, the veterinary offices recommend very clear measures. This includes:
- Abgedeckte Ausläufe
- Gesicherte Futterstellen, um Wildvögel fernzuhalten
- Trennung von Stall- und Straßenkleidung
- Umfassendes Händewaschen nach Kontakt mit Tieren
- Gründliche Sicherung der Zugänge zu Ställen
Furthermore, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute has determined that the risk of further outbreaks in wild and farmed birds is assessed as high. The spread of bird flu is showing an unexpected pace and is affecting not only wild birds, but increasingly also poultry farming in Germany. From November 2023 to January 2024, several HPAIV H5 outbreaks have already been registered in domestic poultry flocks, which further inflames the situation the Friedrich Loeffler Institute reported.
It remains to be hoped that preventative measures and the vigilance of owners can prevent further spread of bird flu in the region. Until then, pet owners should remain vigilant and strictly adhere to all recommended protective measures.