Heilbronn (dpa / lsw) – The highly contagious avian influenza has now also been detected in birds in Heilbronn. The virus was detected in the laboratory in ten dead seagulls that were found on the Neckar, the city of Heilbronn announced on Thursday. All poultry farmers in the Heilbronn city area are now obliged to keep their animals in the barn until the end of March. According to the city of Heilbronn, there are a total of around 130 poultry farms with around 7,000 animals.
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has been spreading in the southwest for weeks and is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by influenza A viruses, which mainly affects waterfowl. According to experts, the disease is not dangerous for humans, but it can cause high losses in livestock flocks. In the event of outbreaks, the authorities prescribe strict measures to ensure that the disease does not spread from wild populations to livestock. The Ministry of Agriculture had previously refrained from making stables nationwide.
