Avian flu broke out in the Hessian poultry farm

Avian influenza in Hesse: bird flu virus has broken out on a poultry farm in Hesse

07/12/2012

On a poultry farm in northern Hesse, the bird flu virus H5-N2 was detected. The geese of a recreational poultry farming in Hofgeismar in the district of Kassel had become infected with the pathogen. "Twenty-five ducks, eleven geese and four chickens had to be killed to prevent the infection from spreading," reports Vizelandrat des Landkreis Kassel, Susanne Selbert.

„We had to kill 40 of the 90 existing animals and have identified a surveillance zone of one kilometer around the affected posture. "Only the 50 pigeons of the owner are spared, but not for the time being in the open, which by appropriate conditions as a closed outdoor aviary According to the district of Kassel, the surveillance zone affects a further 39 poultry farmers with a total of 783 animals, and transport of the poultry is prohibited for the time being.

In all potentially endangered attitudes „Now samples are taken to exclude other attitudes“, so the current message. If the examinations are negative 21 days after cleaning and disinfection of the outbreak, the measures can be canceled according to the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture. The deputy counselor appealed to the poultry farmers „Keep calm and support the official veterinarians in their work.“

Poultry farm blocked for detection of bird flu virus
The bird flu virus was discovered according to the information provided by the district of Kassel, as „who was involved in a poultry breeding club wanted to exhibit some of his animals at a poultry fair in Leipzig.“ Prerequisites for participation in the fair was a proof that no diseases of the animal are present. Here have „a swab sample, which was examined by the Landesbetrieb Hessisches Landeslabor in Giessen, an infection with the influenza A virus“ revealed, reports the vice councilor. After the competent Friedrich Loeffler Institute on the island of Riems, confirmed that it was the „Pathogen H5-LPAI acts“, The stance was immediately closed by the veterinary and consumer protection department of the county, according to the official statement. „We are still lucky in the disaster, because it is the low-pathogenic variant“, stressed Selbert. According to the specifications of the catalog of measures of the Hessian Ministry for the Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, therefore, only one surveillance zone of one kilometer radius had to be defined.

No health hazard for the population
According to the authorities, current evidence of avian influenza virus poses no health risk to humans. Unlike the H5-N1 pathogens, the H5-N2 avian influenza virus is not transmissible to humans. However, for the poultry population, the more pathogenic H5-N2 variants can pose a significant risk and in the worst case require the culling of millions of animals.

For a good reason, influenza A virus-induced avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. For the first time, corresponding pathogens have now been detected on a Hessian poultry farm. Previously, only infections in wild birds were known in Hesse. Although the proven „avian influenza A virus subtype H5“ only minor disease-causing properties in poultry, but it insists that „Risk of genetic modification to the highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H 5, avian influenza“, This is the message of the Hessian Ministry of the Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. (Fp)

Also read:
Study on bird flu supervirus published
Dangerous bird flu virus or harmless?
Avian flu more common than supposed
Saxon poultry farm closed due to bird flu
Avian flu in Lower Saxony

Picture: Schemmi