Restricted area in northern Hesse due to bird flu

Further farm explained because of bird flu in northern Hesse to the restricted area

01/03/2013

In northern Hesse, another case of bird flu has been registered. After four years of no case of bird flu in Germany, the second poultry farm with H5N2 virus infection has already been reported in northern Hesse within a few weeks.

Because of avian influenza restricted area
For the second time, the authorities were informed about an outbreak of bird flu on a farm in Northern Hesse. "There are already 60 ducks and chickens have been killed," said Reinhard Kubat, district administrator of the district Waldeck-Frankenberg in northern Hesse. In addition, be „a restricted area of ​​one kilometer“ Kubat reported.

At the beginning of December, the bird flu virus H5N2 first appeared after four years in geese of a recreational poultry farm in Hofgeismar in the district of Kassel. As reported by the Deputy County Council member of the district of Kassel, Susanne Selbert, "around 40 of the 90 existing animals had to be killed and a surveillance zone of one kilometer had been set up, affecting 39 other poultry farmers with a total of 783 animals," said the vice-councilor. Meanwhile, the district gave the all clear, after in about 850 animals studied in the vicinity no virus was detected. To be sure, the animals should be re-examined in mid-January, said a spokesman.

No danger from bird flu for humans
In the current case, samples were taken that would have resulted in a low-pathogenic (less pathogenic) type of bird flu for the affected farm in Waldeck-Frankenberg, Kubat reported. He hopes to be able to lift the exclusion zone in just a few weeks. "There is no danger for humans due to the bird flu virus". The district administrator referred to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health.

Bird flu can only be transmitted to humans through close contact with infected poultry
Bird flu is an infection with the influenza A virus, which primarily affects birds. Avian influenza occurs in different subtypes, some of which are also transmissible to humans. According to the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, one case was last registered in Saxony before four. Low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses can become highly pathogenic (more pathogenic) under certain circumstances.

In Germany bird flu is among the notifiable animal diseases. Affected animals must be killed according to the Avian Influenza Ordinance derived from the Animal Epidemic Act. In addition, in the case of low-pathogenic viruses, a protection zone of one kilometer must be set up, in highly pathogenic cases of three kilometers around the site. Within this area, poultry transport is prohibited and the animals must be kept in covered cages and enclosures.

Humans only become infected with the virus through very close contact with faeces or blood of the animals. In Europe, this case is extremely rare. When humans become infected with subspecies of the bird flu virus, the subtypes swap proteins on their surface for proteins from the human influenza virus so that transmission becomes possible.

A human-to-human infection occurred only once worldwide. The consumption of poultry products has so far been known to cause no infection. In Germany and the EU, laws or a ban on imports of poultry products from countries where bird flu is rampant prevent food from being sold to infected animals. (Sb)

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Picture: Aka