Bird flu alarm in Lower Saxony: Thousands of animals in danger!

Bird flu alarm in Lower Saxony: Thousands of animals in danger!

What is happening in the area of ​​poultry farming in Lower Saxony? The current spread of bird flu is keeping farmers and authorities on tenterhooks. The Rotenburg district is particularly affected, where two new outbreaks were recently confirmed in the Selsingen municipality. The dangerous pathogen H5N1 has already led to around 44,000 animals having to be killed. These measures are part of a larger plan that includes protection zones of at least three kilometers and monitoring zones of ten kilometers around the affected companies, as NDR reports.

Things look bleak throughout Lower Saxony: almost 840,000 animals have died or been killed since the outbreak of the disease, which began in mid-October. The situation is reminiscent of the record year 2021, when a comparable wave of bird flu infections swept across the Federal Republic. According to Zeit, infections with the H5N1 virus have so far been detected in 66 poultry farms. This means the number of animals killed is approaching the frightening mark of one million.

Reactions and measures

In order to counteract the further spread of the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture issued permission for the shooting of sick cranes in some districts. In the districts of Stade and Verden, special regulations apply that remain in force until the end of January and December respectively. However, hunters can only carry out this shooting after telephone approval to ensure safety is maintained.

The critics of factory farming now have a loud say again. Animal welfare officer Julia P Feier-Schlichting expresses concern about the current animal disease policy. The reason for this is obvious: in order to stop the virus, you must adhere to hygiene regulations and, above all, avoid spreading it through contaminated footwear and equipment. The authorities are also calling for decisive action to get this crisis under control.

Wild vectors and their role

The emergence of wild birds as vectors of the virus is undeniable. In total, over 300 dead wild birds have been linked to the H5N1 virus. The scientists speak of a serious risk because the virus is leaving the wild bird population and endangering poultry populations. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute warns that the infection dynamics could continue in the coming months, which will not only have a negative impact on the animals themselves, but also on the entire industry if this situation worsens.

Considering all these factors, it is clear that both poultry farming and the wild bird population are under pressure. It is clear that the framework conditions for animal husbandry need to be reconsidered in order to better avoid these dangerous disease outbreaks in the future. How long will it take until a system is found that is fair to both animals and people?

A look at the current figures shows that there is a need for action: Over 30 outbreaks in poultry farms have been documented since October; there are 14 in the Cloppenburg district alone, where more than 12.3 million animals live. Constant action is deemed necessary to stop the spread of the virus.

The spread of bird flu remains a hot topic that requires responsibility and action from all sides to protect animals and people.