Berlin: The number of bird flu outbreaks among poultry and wildfowl rose rapidly in Germany in October, the federal authority responsible for monitoring the disease reported on Monday. In its current risk analysis, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) in Greifswald in north-western Germany raised its risk assessment from 'low' to 'high' for poultry farms and from 'low' to 'moderate' for wildfowl.
According to Ghana News Agency, several eastern states have reported high crane mortality over recent days. More than 100 dead birds were found last week at the Kelbra reservoir on the border between the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Dozens were also found over the weekend on the Mritz, a large lake in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The FLI has confirmed infection with an avian influenza virus known as HPAIV of the subtype H5N1, generally known as bird flu, in crane samples from four German states. Cranes had died in large numbers in Israel and Hungary in the past, FLI spokeswoman Elke Reinking said.
She stated that 15 affected poultry farms had been recorded thus far in October, after just four in the whole of September. The reason for the rise was unknown, and genetic analysis was ongoing, she said.
The institute expects the disease to spread further. 'Other wildfowl species, such as ducks and geese, may show fewer symptoms of an HPAIV infection, as they have developed partial immunity,' it says.
While bird flu is a highly infectious disease with a high mortality rate among poultry and wildfowl, it is harmless to humans. The institute recommends rapid removal of carcasses to prevent further spread of the virus. People, including poultry farmers, should avoid contact as far as possible.
