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Renewed occurrence of bird flu in Germany
In Germany birds were first affected in Schleswig-Holstein, now also sick animals from Lake Constance are known: there were 70-80 deceased birds. Switzerland and Austria are also witnessing the epidemic of dead wild birds such as Hungary and Poland.
A swan in Hungary was the first known victim of the current bird flu What is bird flu?
The Robert Koch Institute informs: "The word" bird flu "(avian influenza) refers primarily to a disease caused by influenza A viruses in birds. (...) Highly pathogenic avian Influenza A viruses of subtypes H5 and H7 can cause serious damage to livestock populations of productive poultry, such as chickens, because much of the infected poultry dies of the disease. "
The H5N8 virus
The virus is a H5N8 virus. H and N denote the two most important proteins on the envelope of the influenza virus, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.
A swan in Hungary
Thomas Mettenleiter of the Friedrich-Löffler-Institut explains: "A few days ago the virus was evidently detected in its present form in a zoo in India, then in Hungary by a swan and a turkey population and now in Poland, on Lake Constance and in Schleswig Holstein in wild birds. We have different puzzle pieces that we need to put together. "
Danger for poultry
The risk of infection for poultry is very high. Therefore, in the affected areas in Baden-Wuerttemberg a stable obligation for chickens, turkeys and other poultry.
It is 1000 meters from the shores of Lake Constance and 500 meters from the banks of the Rhine for an initial three months. The pet owners must also wear protective suits in contact with the birds.
Stable duty in Schleswig-Holstein
In Schleswig-Holstein the stable obligation since Tuesday of this week applies to all Nutzvögel. Around Plön sick sea birds were lying on at least eight lakes, from other places suspected cases are known, which are currently being reviewed. In total, around 240 wild birds from Schleswig-Holstein who died from the H5N8 virus are known.
Danger to humans?
November 2014, H5N8 viruses appeared among poultry in Germany and Europe.
So far, more than 800 human cases have been caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses, and more than half of the patients died. Infections with influenza A (H5N1) affected countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Egypt, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and China. In early 2014, there was a disease in Canada.
People have not been affected by the current virus. Theoretically, it is conceivable to catch on the food with the pathogen, but unlikely.
The Robert Koch Institute explains: "If influenza A (H5N1), A (H5N8), A (H5N2) or any other avian influenza virus occurs in productive poultry, it is primarily workers in the poultry industry and veterinarians who are at risk must protect themselves in accordance with the requirements of occupational safety and health; No risk is seen for the general public. "The virus is not unknown: in Ireland, for example, it was already in business in 1983.
A mass epidemic?
Epidemics - End-epidemic viruses and bacteria are currently widespread in literature and film, and here anxiety plays a role - fear of disease that can spread globally faster today than in the past. The H5N8 virus, meanwhile, will not steal humanity. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)