H5N8 avian flu broke out in Lower Saxony

H5N8: Highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in Lower Saxony

17/12/2014

As reported by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture, "avian influenza has been found in a poultry farm in Cloppenburg". According to a study by the Friedrich-Löffler-Institut (FLI), it is "the highly pathogenic subtype H5N8, which until now has only appeared in Asia and appeared in Europe for the first time in November". Among other things, in addition to breeding farms in the Netherlands and Great Britain, a breeding farm in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was affected. The subtype is highly contagious and usually lead to the death of animals in breeding poultry.

For the affected company in Cloppenburg, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture imposed a 72-hour ban on transport of poultry into or out of the district. In addition, the 20,000 animals of the Cloppenburger Hof must now all be culled. In addition, according to the press release, the risk assessment issued by the FLI at the end of November also applies to this case and thus continues to exist. She sees the stabling „of poultry risk-based, at least for poultry farms, which are in regions with high wild bird density or in the vicinity of wild bird rest areas“ in front. „In addition, biosecurity measures in poultry farming should be strictly adhered to.“ By which way the so far only endemic occurring animal epidemic has come from Asia to Europe, so far unclear. In addition to the introduction of food, goods or water, it is also possible that it was transmitted by migratory birds. The FLI participates in the more precise cause research in Germany.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania eases the need for stable animals
Regardless of the recent outbreak of the H5N8 pathogen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern wants to ease the compulsory barn. Only in the vicinity of risk areas and waters near the stable obligation should continue to apply. However, the investigations of killed wild birds and fecal samples of wild geese and ducks would be continued for safety reasons and, in the case of conspicuous findings, the compulsory stabling obligation would be reintroduced. Since the entry paths of the pathogen are so far unknown, Til Backhaus, Minister of Agriculture in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern called on the poultry farmers to continue to strictly obey the existing safety measures and to prevent contact between breeding and wild birds.

Unlikely to transfer to humans
According to the FLI press release „Infections of humans with these H5N8 viruses ... so far unknown; Nevertheless, human susceptibility can not be completely excluded at present. Therefore, increased precautionary measures should be observed when handling potentially infected poultry and wild birds.“

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also sees no reason to worry about the transfer to humans, although the RKI does not rule out such a transfer. If people become infected with the virus, this is initially expressed by flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and sore throat (more here: bird flu symptoms). The majority of H5N1 cases known to have suffered from diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. In the further course of the disease, there are more and more cases of pneumonia, which in the worst case end with a lung failure and thus fatal. Approximately Half of all those infected with the H5N1 variant have met this fate.

The Christmas goose is not in danger
Consumers worried about the traditional Christmas goose, on the other hand, can be carefree. A transfer can be excluded, according to current research. (Jp)