Again bird flu in the district Gütersloh

Again bird flu proof in the district Gütersloh

06/06/2011

In the district of Gütersloh Westerwiehe (East Westphalia), a slight form of bird flu H7 has broken out. The district administration has already begun on Sunday to let the livestock mass kill.

In the North Rhine-Westphalian district of Gütersloh the livestock is the mild form of avian influenza „Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI)“ erupted. Last Sunday, on behalf of the authorities, farms began killing around 4,200 birds, most notably so-called farm animals such as geese, chickens and ducks. This communicated the district administration Gütersloh in an announcement with. A new restricted area did not have to be built because the large-scale farm is located within the already existing restricted area in Westerwiehe. Dr. Bernhard Beneke, head of the department veterinary and food control of the district Gütersloh hopes that it „the last operation will be“ in which the flu virus was detected. However, to get a final assessment, all the laboratory results would have to be available first. In order to prevent further spread, the authorities have ordered killings, Sperrbezirke and stand-still. Culling has so far affected 60 to 70,000 animals. According to the experts, around 3.5 million animals live in about 2100 stables in the wider environment. So far, mass killings have been carried out in six farms.

Only a few days ago, the measures were eased in the fight against bird flu. On Saturday, another infectious finding was reported in a Westerwiehe farm. For about ten days, the health and agriculture authorities are taking action against influenza viruses.

In the past, LPAI viruses have in many cases mutated into a more dangerous HPAI pathogen. Animals infected with the named virus are generally not considered dangerous to humans. Diseases following the consumption of infected animals have not yet been detected. Accordingly, there is no acute health hazard for humans. (Sb)

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Picture: schemmi