Bird flu is spreading: Lower Saxony declares protection zones!

Bird flu is spreading: Lower Saxony declares protection zones!

Bird flu continues to spread and is also leaving its mark in northern Germany. There are worrying outbreaks in Lower Saxony. The Cloppenburg district is affected, where the third company within a week has been confronted with the dangerous H5N1 virus. A duck population has been established and official confirmation from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute is available. In order to contain the spread of avian influenza, a total of 5,300 animals will be killed, according to reports butenunbinnen.de.

Numerous symptoms appear in sick animals, including high fever, loss of appetite and shortness of breath. What is particularly alarming is that avian influenza is highly contagious and usually fatal. Even if the danger to people is currently assessed as very low, the BUND calls on citizens to be vigilant. Dead wild birds should be reported immediately to the local veterinary office, while dog owners are advised to keep their animals away from birds. This would be an important step in minimizing the risks.

Protective measures and caution

In view of the current threat, several parts of the city in Bremen have been declared protection zones. These include, among others, Huchting, Neustadt and Schwachhausen. The new regulation is intended to prevent the virus from spreading further. This includes the recommendation not to feed wild birds, as this has contributed to the spread of the virus in the past.

Wild birds such as cranes, which are possible carriers, are currently particularly affected. These feathered wanderers often show no symptoms at all, but still carry the virus and spread it over long distances. Rbb24 reports an alarming record number of wild birds dying this fall, which only increases concerns about the respective populations.

Global dimension of danger

The H5N1 virus is not just a regional issue. However, the risk of infection for people remains very low, as the WHO emphasizes. To date, only a few infectious transmissions are known, most of which required proximity to infected animals. In recent years, there have been repeated fatal outbreaks around the world, as current statistics show. This records deaths from the H5N1 virus since 2003 and shows a worrying picture of the pandemic in various countries. The details are provided by the numbers on Statista were published.

It remains to be seen how the situation will develop. Citizens are called upon to pay attention to protect endangered animal populations. Although the warning against feeding wild birds may initially seem like a preventive measure, it could be crucial in limiting the spread of the virus. In these uncertain times, caution is advised and everyone can do their part to protect wild birds.