Avian influenza continues on the rise The emergency order comes

(aid) - A poultry stock with 30,000 chickens in Schleswig-Holstein has been culled because of avian influenza. The avian influenza A subtype H5N8, first detected in aquatic birds at the beginning of November, continues to spread. First, the avian influenza was found in water birds in Lake Plön and Lake Constance, now also in chicken and turkey stocks. In order to prevent further spread of avian influenza, compulsory housing for productive poultry is now required in the affected federal states. Especially in risk areas, caution is required. Risk areas include, for example, rendezvous stations of passing wild birds as well as rest and resting places at or near lakes, rivers and wetlands.

The Friedrich-Löffler-Institut strongly recommends the implementation of strict biosecurity measures in all poultry farms. Dead or sick wild birds should be reported directly to the competent veterinary authority, poultry husbandry should be further investigated and contact by hunters who have come into contact with game birds with regard to poultry should be avoided. In addition, there should be no contact possibility of outdoor poultry with natural waters. The current risk assessment of the FLI is available here: https://www.fli.de/de/home.

Avian influenza on the rise. Picture: fotohansel - fotolia

Federal Minister of Agriculture Christian Schmidt has called a crisis team. Participants include the federal states, the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, representatives of the economy and experts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. This week an emergency order is to be issued, which also obliges smaller companies to take security measures. This was announced by a spokesman for the Federal Ministry following deliberations by a federal and state working group on 15 November 2016 in Berlin. The necessary measures are risk-based adapted to the possibilities of the smaller attitudes. Until now, these guidelines only apply to farms with more than 1,000 poultry. Schleswig-Holstein has already issued an appropriate directive, which also provides for strict hygiene rules for hobby farmers and farmers in order to prevent further spread of the virus. Renate Kessen, aid