Since the autumn there have been significantly more bird flu cases in MV in the north-east than a year earlier. Nevertheless, fewer animals had to be killed. The risk of entries remains high.
Schwerin (dpa / mv) – In the north-east, around 12,140 animals in poultry farms have been killed because of bird flu since last autumn. This is the result of figures from the Schwerin Ministry of Agriculture at the request of the German Press Agency. According to this, 66 outbreaks in reaches were registered from the beginning of October to mid-February. According to the information, compared to the previous year, significantly more, but smaller attitudes and significantly fewer animals were affected.
According to the ministry, twelve outbreaks were registered from the beginning of October 2021 to April 2022. However, according to the information, more than 57,000 animals had to be killed. At that time four of the holdings affected had more than 1000 animals, since last autumn this has only been the case for one of the affected holdings.
According to the ministry, more than 938,000 euros in compensation were paid for poultry killed between autumn and spring 2021/2022. According to the information, in roughly the same period of 2020/2021 it was even more than five million euros. No reliable figures are available for the past few months.
At the end of last year there were numerous infections in hobby farms in connection with the national show of breed poultry breeders in November in Demmin.
The ministry cited a nationwide spike in reported cases in wild birds in January. “The virus is therefore still present in the wild bird population. Weather-related movements of water bird species are also to be expected.” Accordingly, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute estimates the risk of entry into poultry farms and bird populations through direct and indirect contact with wild birds as high. Compliance with security measures is strongly recommended.
Bird flu or avian influenza has been plaguing Europe on a regular basis for years. While the pathogen in connection with bird migration in the past occurred in this country mainly in the cold season, there have recently been infections throughout the year.
The largest bird flu wave ever documented is currently rampant worldwide, extending over several continents. Sea lions in Peru and other mammal species such as raccoons, foxes, bears and martens were also affected. An outbreak on a mink farm in Spain is of particular concern to experts because the pathogen may have been transmitted from mammal to mammal there. That would be an indication that the pathogen is adapting to mammals and could therefore become more dangerous to humans.
