Bird flu wave: Hundreds of thousands of animals must die!

Bird flu wave: Hundreds of thousands of animals must die!

Bird flu has Germany firmly in its grip and is causing worrying news from animal husbandry. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) expects that hundreds of thousands of animals will have to die in the coming weeks in order to contain the spread of the highly contagious H5N1 virus. Tens of thousands of animals have already lost their lives as infections have exploded in around 20 poultry farms in the last three weeks. A worrying development that can be assessed as exceptionally high in this short amount of time, as Berlin Story News reports.

What are the causes of this rapid spread? This is due not only to the high risk of infection of the virus, but also to bird migration in autumn, which promotes transmission between wild and farmed birds. According to RND, the infection process is classified as dynamic, especially in cranes and other bird species. The crane population in particular is being severely affected, with over 1,000 cranes dying in Brandenburg alone, and more than 900 dead animals being recovered in Linum.

Rapid action and recommendations

To contain the wave of infections, authorities have taken strict hygiene measures. Poultry owners must bring their animals into stables and the stable requirement is rigorously enforced in affected districts. Outbreaks in commercial poultry farms have already been reported in eight federal states, quickly causing economic concerns. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, for example, a total of 150,000 animals had to be culled in two laying hen farms, as Zeit shows.

The public is urged not to touch dead wild birds as they are most likely infected with H5N1. The virus is hardly dangerous to people, but it can be spread. Instead of taking action yourself, you should report the findings directly to the responsible veterinary office. The FLI raises the risks in many regions to a high level and emphasizes the need to avoid private initiatives. The authorities are already operating at their limits and every decision must be carefully considered.

The economic effects

The economic consequences for animal breeding are considerable. Owners not only have to accept high losses from killing their animals, but also fear the impact on future production. Although compensation for killed animals is paid from the animal disease fund, consequential damage is not covered. The uncertainty surrounding bird flu is causing many farmers to fear for their livelihoods.

Current developments show how quickly bird flu can spread and what serious consequences it has for animal husbandry. With every group of animals killed, concerns about the future of local animal husbandry and the economy as a whole grow. There is currently no end to this epidemic in sight and the authorities are calling on everyone involved to remain vigilant and rigorously implement the necessary measures.