Bird flu outbreak officially ended

Minister of Agriculture declared the outbreak of bird flu to be over

07/02/2015

After the outbreak of bird flu in Lower Saxony at the end of 2014, the fear of a spread of the highly pathogenic avian flu pathogen H5N8 was initially great. Comprehensive security measures were initiated and more than 130,000 animals were killed. Now the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection has announced the end of the crisis.

At the end of 2014, the so-called avian influenza first broke out in a turkey farm in the district of Cloppenburg and later in a conventional duck farm in the district of Emsland. „In the district of Cloppenburg, around 120,000 animals had to be killed at the end of last year and around 11,000 animals in the district of Emsland“, so the message of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture. For this, the Tierseuchenkasse Niedersachsen and the state of Lower Saxony had paid around 950,000 euros in compensation. „Extensive studies have not confirmed any other bird flu cases in poultry housing“, said the Lower Saxony Minister of Agriculture Christian Meyer (Green) on.

End of the animal epidemic crisis case
With the end of the measures in the observation areas and Sperrbezirken the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture declares the epidemic crisis crisis announced in mid-December 2014 now officially closed. Nevertheless, Minister of Agriculture Meyer continued to urge increased vigilance. Because „Of course, the step we have taken does not mean that we are immune from further outbreaks. We must continue to exercise the highest care“, so meyer. Nevertheless, it is „a sign of hope for all poultry farmers that no further bird flu cases have occurred so far.“ The „Hamburger Abendblatt“ writes in connection with the official end of the animal epidemic crisis case, that now hopes for a sufficient supply of organic eggs at Easter rise. Because as a result of the still applicable stable obligation the appropriate poultry farmers should no longer offer their eggs from the end of February as open land and organic eggs. Minister of Agriculture Christian Meyer has the districts in view of the new situation now, however „for a new and balanced risk assessment in the enclosure of free range poultry“ asked.

Continued vigilance
When re-assessing risk should be taken into account, for example, in addition to reasons of cost-effectiveness, „that no new cases of the highly pathogenic variant of bird flu H5N8 have emerged in Lower Saxony poultry farming“, explains Meyer. Despite extensive investigations, the avian influenza virus H5N8 was only detected in a dead seagull from the district of Aurich at the beginning of the year. The total of 839 wild birds examined last year were all without avian influenza findings. Accordingly, no very high prevalence of avian influenza virus in the wild bird population can be assumed. Yet, according to Meyer, vigilance is still required. The biosecurity measures, in particular the hygiene precautions with locks, disinfection mats and protective clothing for visitors are to be kept urgently. „And, of course, a suspicion of bird flu is to be reported immediately to the authorities“, emphasizes Meyer.

10,000 samples examined
In connection with the animal epidemic crisis case or its official termination, the minister praised not only the farmers for the observance of biosafety measures and the successful fight against bird flu, but also the staff of all involved authorities, in particular the affected counties and the State Office for Consumer Protection and food safety (LAVES). These would have „With their tireless dedication almost around the clock, thousands of samples were taken in the affected livestock and quickly analyzed“, reports Meyer. „I thank you very much for that“, the Lower Saxony Minister of Agriculture continues. In total, around 10,000 samples were examined in the LAVES, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

China and South Korea original outbreak countries
Originally, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus type H5N8 (HPAI H5N8) initially appeared more frequently in China and South Korea. According to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture, around 12 million pieces of poultry had to be killed there as part of the outbreaks. The concern of the local poultry breeders was correspondingly high at the first detection of the pathogens in Germany. While the virus currently poses no threat to humans, spread in the poultry flocks would have had fatal consequences for the poultry industry. (Fp)