Münchhausen (dpa/lhe) – 25 animals from a poultry farm in Münchhausen north of Marburg were killed on suspicion of avian influenza. As the Marburg-Biedenkopf district announced on Monday, several chickens had previously died there. According to the information, the avian influenza pathogen H5 was detected in 14 birds in the first laboratory tests commissioned by the veterinary and consumer protection service. The final confirmation from the Friedrich Löffler Institute, which is responsible for animal diseases, is still pending, it said.
The source of the infection was most likely a poultry exhibition in North Rhine-Westphalia, which the animal owner concerned had visited with some of his animals, the district said. The establishment of fixed protection and surveillance zones is currently not necessary. The situation on site will continue to be closely monitored. Animal owners are also strongly recommended not to visit poultry exhibitions.
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a highly contagious animal disease. Pathogens are influenza viruses, which in principle can also be transmitted to humans, as it was said. Overall, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the risk of the current variant circulating in Germany can be assessed as very low. According to this, only people with close contact to infected poultry are at risk.
