17,000 poultry killed prematurely?

Animal rights activists criticize: were killed 17,000 poultry animals prematurely due to an actually harmless avian flu pathogen?

By order of the Parchim County Veterinary Office in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, about 17,000 geese, ducks and chickens were killed in Kobande because a routine check-up of the herd revealed H5N2 bird flu viruses. This type of agent is generally considered by virologists to be completely harmless. In other European countries, therefore, no stock killings are made due to this pathogen, as the Association for Animal Welfare e.V. announced.

The animals of the affected poultry farm are pre-groomed in stables, so that, if the plumage provides enough protection, they are allowed to live in full-time free-range housing until slaughter. „This is the most animal friendly type of mast“, stressed Rosemarie Heiß, who looks after the stock veterinarily.

Mass killings of this kind in the past caused massive protests not only on the part of animal rights activists. This has a negative effect on the sale of poultry meat, which is why the poultry industry does not want publicity. Animal rights activist Eckard Wendt of the working group for welfare appropriate livestock e.V. (AGfaN) was therefore not allowed to enter the site. But he was able to observe the process from the outside: The animals were quietly driven under the supervision of a veterinarian of four people in pens and in the baskets, lame animals even received almost gently. Only occasionally did a worker forget the unwanted observer and throw a goose into the transport container. The drive to the centrally located gasification container was slow and therefore gentle. On the other hand, Wendt considered the unloading into the container to be absolutely anti-animal welfare. The animals were poured high above the container in a funnel with downpipe. The killing was done as usual with CO2 gas (carbon dioxide). CO2 combines with the moisture of the respiratory tract to produce highly irritating carbon dioxide (H2CO3), which triggers extreme states of anxiety. Death occurs by deprivation of oxygen, that is by suffocation.

Ministry of Agriculture rejects criticism
The Ministry of Agriculture rejected the criticism of animal rights activists. According to a spokeswoman, a slaughter was not possible. However, mass killing of animals is monitored by skilled workers. The killing of the animals should prevent the spread of the infection to other poultry flocks. It is still assumed in the ministry that it is not ruled out that the harmless virus itself mutates into the dangerous H5N1 virus. This could generally be the case for virus types H5 and H7. The more animals live together, the greater the danger. In addition, they have acted under the Animal Welfare Ordinance, which provides for a killing in such cases.

In contrast, veterinarian Dr. Karin Ulich of the association "Mensch & Tier eV": "It is completely out of the question, that the harmless type H5N2, which was found in the circle of Parchim in healthy ducks and geese, mutates to H5N1 Healthy free-range animals with an intact immune system form against H5N2 Protective antibodies - these viruses make the virus disappear after a short time. " (PM Eckard Wendt, Sb, pm Animal & Human, 15.11.2010)

Also read:
Dangerous bird flu virus or harmless?
Bird flu viruses detected

Picture credits: Eckard Wendt / AGfaN