Stall duty for poultry because of bird flu

Desired stable obligation in the bird flu risk areas

25/11/2014

Due to the bird flu, there is provision for poultry in the risk areas. Numerous regions will, according to media reports, oblige poultry farmers to freeze their populations to prevent infection with the avian influenza virus H5N8 through contact with wild birds.

The compulsory housing in risk areas will be sought later this week, quotes the news agency „dpa“ a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture Saxony-Anhalt. After the bird flu virus H5N8 was detected for the first time in Europe in a wild bird on the island of Ummanz near Rügen at the weekend, "in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the stable obligation for poultry already arranged". In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the Ministry of Agriculture has now responded and today one „Decree on compulsory stabling in risk areas to the district veterinarians and counties“ sent, so the official message.

Barn duty in NRW
The decree from NRW contains a list with the risk areas, in which the stable obligation will apply from Tuesday. These are highly frequented flight zones of migratory birds and / or areas where migratory birds have settled. Stall duty applies to conventional farms and organic farms as well as to private owners of domestic poultry. „All free-range laying hens, chickens and turkeys, but also ducks and geese or other poultry must remain in their stables until further notice to avoid direct contact with wild birds“, reports the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Wild birds as vectors of bird flu?
In Saxony-Anhalt is currently being announced by the „dpa“ still checked by the veterinarians, how the stable obligation is to be implemented. The affected regions are primarily areas with large bodies of water where wild birds rest. In addition, in order to grasp the spread of the bird flu virus in the wild bird population, preparations are under way for extended monitoring, the team reports „dpa“ continue. From next week, according to the news agency to be taken by the end of February 400 samples of wild birds. The consequences of the spread of the virus may be seen by looking at the poultry flock in the affected federal states. In Saxony-Anhalt, for example, according to the „dpa“ 14 million pieces of poultry kept. In an emergency, a large part of this stock could be lost. (Fp)