Bird flu: 175,000 hens in Vechta have to be culled!

Bird flu: 175,000 hens in Vechta have to be culled!

Another case of bird flu has been reported in the Vechta district, Lower Saxony. Around 175,000 laying hens in the Spreda district have to be culled. The outbreak is the sixth in a week and a half in this district, which, with a total of 365,000 animals affected, is the sad top spot in Lower Saxony. The killing of the affected animals is scheduled for Tuesday to stop the spread of the virus, which has far-reaching consequences for the poultry industry. According to [NDR](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/vogelgrippe-weiterer-fall-in-vechta-175000-tiere- Werden-getoetet,vogelgrippe-240.html), the stable requirement was imposed on poultry farms with 50 or more animals in the Harburg district.

The situation is getting worse: According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Lower Saxony has recorded 29 active cases in kept animals, with the Cloppenburg district having the most cases with 11 outbreaks. In 2024, around 12.3 million animals will be registered here in around 2,257 poultry farms. Bird flu, caused by HPAIV (H5N1), is considered harmless to humans, but they can still be carriers of the virus. It is therefore important that security measures are consistently implemented to prevent further intrusion into the stocks.

The path of bird flu

How bird flu is spreading in Germany is also the subject of a current survey by Tagesschau. Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer is calling for increased protective measures in agriculture, as bird flu is booming all year round, but especially during the autumn bird migration. Thousands of animals were also culled in other federal states such as Baden-Württemberg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In total, the current wave has already resulted in more than 200,000 farm animals having to be killed because of bird flu.

Farms have been asked to follow strict hygiene rules, in particular to avoid wild birds coming into contact with domestic poultry. This is crucial as the risk of entry and spread of the virus into poultry flocks is considered to be high. In the last few weeks, 15 outbreaks in poultry have been identified in Germany, which further increases the risk level. A variety of measures are necessary to prevent the spread, including consistent monitoring of wild birds.

What to do if you suspect?

Private individuals should pay particular attention to the pneumonia risks that can arise from contact with sick or dead wild birds. Health authorities advise avoiding possible encounters and reporting dead birds immediately. It is also recommended that a seasonal flu vaccination be given to people who frequently come into contact with poultry or wild birds. These measures are important to avoid double infections and promote overall health.

Bird flu is a problematic issue that requires close cooperation from all parties involved. To contain further outbreaks, farmers and the public must be in the same boat. It is now important for everyone involved in agriculture to have a good hand in implementing the recommendations. We can only hope that the wave calms down soon and the number of affected animals does not continue to increase. For detailed information on the current situation, you can visit the Friedrich Loeffler Institute websites.