Bird flu: Lower Saxony is fighting massive animal deaths!

Bird flu: Lower Saxony is fighting massive animal deaths!

Bird flu continues to spread rapidly in Lower Saxony and has already reached alarming proportions. As NDR reports, around 140,000 birds were culled this year, with around 70,000 affected in October alone. This dramatic situation does not stop at farms, especially in the Cloppenburg district, which is particularly hard hit with its many poultry farms.

Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte explained the measures taken in detail. That's why she suggests keeping the affected stables temporarily empty and calls for higher compensation for the many affected businesses. Farmers currently receive a maximum of 50 euros per animal killed, although the federal government plans to increase this compensation to up to 110 euros. At the moment, both the state of Lower Saxony and the Lower Saxony Animal Disease Fund are covering half of the costs.

Affected counties and animals

The situation is particularly critical in the Cloppenburg district, where, according to Zeit, around 70,400 turkeys and 5,300 ducks have been killed or died. The districts of Vechta and Diepholz are also affected, with around 41,500 turkeys reported in Vechta and 1,300 pullets in Diepholz. In the Heidekreis, 14 dead animals from small poultry farms were registered. These numbers reflect the desperation that is spreading among affected animal owners.

In order to limit the situation, compulsory stables were ordered in several districts, including Cloppenburg, Emsland, Diepholz, Gifhorn, Oldenburg and Vechta. However, Minister Staudte emphasizes that a nationwide requirement for stables is not a panacea, as recent outbreaks have occurred in stables.

Health aspects and consumer safety

Bird flu not only affects agriculture, but also raises questions about health. The virus, which is classified as relatively harmless to humans, is currently transmissible at high infection doses. Even if there are no known cases of H5N1 in Germany, consumers still need to be careful. However, there is no danger to them when preparing poultry because the virus is killed at temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius.

The minister recommends avoiding bird resting places, not touching dead wild birds and keeping a distance from conspicuous animals. These measures are intended to help contain the spread of the virus and thus avoid future culling of animals.

The situation will continue to be closely monitored and the Minister of Agriculture will regularly update her information on the progress of the disease. The affected animal owners can only hope that faster and more effective solutions are in sight to protect their businesses and save the valuable animals.

Another topic of concern is the possible price increases for poultry products that may result from the culling. It will be exciting to see how the market develops while farmers hope for support and better compensation.

The complexity of bird flu is reflected not only in the health situation of the animals, but also in the social and economic structure of the affected regions. A quick solution is therefore essential in order not to push too many companies to the wall.