Avian flu crisis case proclaimed in Lower Saxony

Announcement of the crisis due to avian flu in Lower Saxony

18/12/2014

After the highly pathogenic avian flu virus H5N8 was detected in a turkey farm in the district of Cloppenburg in Lower Saxony, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture and the counties have introduced extensive measures to prevent the spread of the pathogens. In the counties Cloppenburg and Ammerland be „around the affected farm a restricted area with a radius of at least three kilometers and an observation area with a radius of at least ten kilometers“ according to the Ministry of Agriculture's communication.

Within a radius of one kilometer around the affected farm, the district authorities can order the killing and removal of further stocks after a risk assessment, reports the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. A killing of the animals is also intended for the affected farm with a total of about 19,000 turkeys and for a contact operation with about 12,000 animals. With yesterday's declaration of the crisis case by the Lower Saxony Minister of Agriculture Christian Meyer (Greens), the cost assumption on the part of the Tierseuchenkasse is ensured in the event of such a killing of the stock. In total, according to the current state, around 120,000 animals are to be targeted because they may have come into contact with the avian influenza virus H5N8.

Transport ban for poultry
In the restricted area with a radius of three kilometers around the outbreak operation in the district of Cloppenburg, samples from the poultry flocks of about 60 companies are also to be taken, according to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture. Until Christmas is expected here with results. In addition, check „The authorities are currently intensively investigating whether there are other contact companies that had to do with the turkey farm in the district of Cloppenburg“, reports the Lower Saxony Minister of Agriculture. So far, two such contact companies have been identified in the district of Vechta. However, the samples taken here were negative. So it remains the hope that the highly pathogenic pathogens could not spread in the Lower Saxony poultry flocks. To achieve this was in the district of Cloppenburg and the neighboring counties Ammerland and Leer also „a so-called stand still“ enact. „Birds kept in this area may not be brought into or out of stock“, reports the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture. An exception applies only to day-old chicks brought from a hatchery within the Stand Still area to a holding outside the zone.

Factory farming promotes the spread of disease
While the authorities are currently dealing with emergency measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza, animal and environmental organizations point to what they consider to be the underlying causes of maladministration. In fact, the obvious conclusion here is that with extremely large poultry flocks in a small space dangerous pathogens can be transmitted more easily. With the agricultural policy at the federal level, the problem has therefore been tightened, explained „Southgerman newspaper“ (SZ) the position of the environmental protection organization Greenpeace. Instead of addressing the shortcomings of mass animal husbandry concretely, were new buildings of huge fattening and laying hens state also financially supported, the Greenpeace agricultural expert Stephanie Töwe-Rimkeit of the „SZ“ cited. So it may not be a coincidence that in a county like Cloppenburg with particularly large industrial poultry farms, the highly pathogenic pathogens were detected.

Criticizing mass killings
Sharp criticism of the planned mass killings exercised the animal protection federation. The precautionary killing of healthy animals is the wrong way. Rather, it would require instead of such panic actions of an even stricter compliance with hygiene and protective measures by the farmers, explains the „SZ“ the critique of the Animal Welfare Association. The Nature Conservation Union has also been in favor of wild birds and poultry better to protect against mutual infection, the newspaper continues. This requires strict safety measures in all industrial poultry farms. Exhaust air systems should be equipped with suitable filters, waste and sewage would have to be disposed of properly and transport of the animals should be carried out only in closed trucks. (Fp)