Berlin: More than 30 commercial poultry farms in Germany have been forced to cull their animals following outbreaks of avian influenza, according to Germany's animal health institute on Sunday.
According to Ghana News Agency, initial surveys revealed that approximately 400,000 chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys have been culled and subsequently disposed of to prevent further spread of the disease. The head of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Christa Khn, noted that similar figures were recorded in 2021, which was considered the strongest year for avian influenza to date. Khn emphasized that while it is difficult to predict how the situation will develop, FLI expects a further increase in outbreaks and cases, describing the situation as highly dynamic.
The most significant losses have been reported in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern alone, nearly 150,000 laying hens were culled at two locations. On Sunday, authorities in the eastern state of Brandenburg announced that another 130,000 birds would be killed following the detection of bird flu cases.
Thousands of livestock have been pre-emptively culled in several other German states after FLI analyses confirmed infections with the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza virus. The main carriers of avian influenza are believed to be wild birds migrating to southern regions. Although the disease is now present in Germany year-round, the risk of infection increases sharply during the autumn migration.
According to the FLI, the current wave of infections began earlier than usual, with cranes in north-west Brandenburg being affected to an unprecedented extent, dying in large numbers. Khn reported that the avian influenza virus H5N1 was detected in 65 cases in wild birds, with many more infected animals having died.
Khn warned that the risk of infection from infected wild birds and their droppings remains very high. She advised avoiding contact with dead wild birds and refraining from visiting poultry flocks afterwards, as the avian influenza virus can also be spread indirectly through contaminated footwear or equipment.
While noting that there is a low risk of infection for the general population, Khn highlighted that people who come into contact with infected animals, such as teams clearing affected poultry houses or collecting dead wild birds, have a moderate risk of infection and therefore wear protective clothing. With the peak of bird migration yet to arrive, the risk of avian influenza entering poultry flocks remains high.
Livestock farmers have been urged to strictly follow hygiene protocols and prevent any contact between their birds and wild birds. The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry cautioned that failure to act could jeopardize animal health and the security of supply. Farmers are entitled to claim financial damages from the animal disease fund. Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer advocated raising the upper limit of compensation payments for animals that have to be culled from the current pound 50 ($58) to up to pound 110, based on the market value for compensation payments from the animal disease fund.
