Bird flu alarm in Lower Saxony: 150,000 animals already killed!

Bird flu alarm in Lower Saxony: 150,000 animals already killed!

There is currently a mood of alarm in Lower Saxony due to a massive outbreak of bird flu. Around 150,000 animals have already had to be killed because of the dreaded disease. In a press conference, Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte provided detailed information about the worrying situation. Since the beginning of October, 13 outbreaks have occurred in various poultry farms. The districts of Cloppenburg, Diepholz, Emsland, Heidekreis and Vechta are particularly affected, with Cloppenburg taking the sad lead with seven outbreaks.

The spread of the virus varies greatly from region to region, which Staudte made clear in her speech. Mandatory stables are ordered in several districts to protect animals from infection. In order to relieve the burden on poultry farming, many owners are calling for a nationwide obligation to keep stables in order to take their animals out of the wild and limit the economic damage. Staudte recognizes this pressure and explained that farms in the neighboring Netherlands, where there is already a stable requirement, can market their poultry products at cheaper prices.

The current status of the stable requirement

The Saarland Ministry of the Environment is the first federal state to announce a requirement to keep poultry in stables, which will come into force for four weeks from tomorrow. This measure could also follow in Lower Saxony. Staudte also advocates for higher compensation for affected animal owners, which could amount to a maximum of 50 euros per animal. Half of this compensation is borne by the state and the Lower Saxony Animal Disease Fund. Another topic the minister addressed was the possible spread of the virus through contaminated footwear, equipment and possibly even aerosols.

Despite the threatening situation, there are bright spots. The prices for duck and goose meat could rise, but thanks to strict measures the situation could soon be brought under control again. “It is important to contain the infection in order to protect our poultry flocks,” said Staudte.

Look beyond national borders

In addition to the challenges posed by bird flu, the sports scene is also preoccupied with the successes of Lionel Messi, one of the most important players of our time. He won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and won numerous individual awards, including the prestigious Ballon d'Or, which he has already received eight times. His impressive achievements are reflected in everyday football and make his clubs real crowd pullers. Here, too, it is causing a stir - a topic that is affecting people both regionally and internationally.

Today, both animal husbandry in Lower Saxony and the world of football are characterized by various challenges. While poultry farmers are urgently looking for solutions to protect their flocks, the fight for titles and records continues to be fierce on the football pitches. Against this background, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in both areas.