Bird flu rages in the north: over 400,000 animals culled!

Bird flu rages in the north: over 400,000 animals culled!

Bird flu in northern Germany is currently spreading at an alarming rate. According to the Friedrich Löffler Institute (FLI), around 400,000 animals from various poultry farms in Germany have already had to be culled. The numbers are particularly alarming in the north, especially in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg. Here, over 150,000 laying hens and turkeys were killed in Western Pomerania, while a further 130,000 animals had to be culled in the Märkisch-Oderland district in Brandenburg. ndr.de reports that the wave of infections started unusually early this year.

The H5N1 virus is transmitted by sick wild birds that are taking a break on their migration south in these weeks. Cranes are particularly affected, with an estimated 2,000 animals having already died from avian influenza. 29 outbreaks in wild birds were registered nationwide and the FLI's risk assessment for further outbreaks was raised to "high". [zdf.de].

The economic consequences of bird flu

The economic damage is enormous for those affected in agriculture. Owners can apply for compensation from the Animal Disease Fund, but the maximum compensation set by law for killed animals is only 50 euros. However, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has already requested the EU to increase this upper limit to up to 110 euros in order to better support animal owners. In the previous year, around 1.2 million euros were paid out in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania alone, while in 2021 it was even 4 million euros. tagesschau.de also reports outbreaks in large poultry farms in Baden-Württemberg, where 15,000 animals were killed.

The general measures to combat bird flu require poultry farmers to observe strict hygiene rules and avoid contact with wild birds. FLI President Christa Kühn urgently warns against contact with dead wild birds and recommends avoiding such places in order not to risk further transmission of the virus. However, the risk of serious illness for the population as a whole is low, according to the experts.

A look into the future

Despite the current situation, bird flu remains a year-round threat in Germany, which increases with seasonal bird migration. Pressure is growing on the poultry industry and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming weeks. The FLI does not rule out the possibility that we could face a similar dramatic spread as we experienced in the winter of 2020/21, when more than two million animals were culled. Current developments require quick action to avoid further losses and economic damage.