Bird flu: ZDG warns hobby owners to comply with biosafety
The bird flu virus H5N8 was detected at the weekend in a small poultry farm run as a hobby with a few laying hens and waterfowl, and the stock was culled. "The bird flu virus does not stop at small hobby businesses either," warns Friedrich-Otto Ripke, President of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry. V. (ZDG), on the occasion of this first case of bird flu in a German poultry flock this winter to increased vigilance. He also expressly calls on the hobby owners to implement the learned and known biosafety measures (see checklist) consistently, completely and carefully. "All poultry farmers in Germany now have a joint responsibility to protect their animals - small and large farms, hobby farms and commercial poultry stocks."
Association continuously sensitizes members - compliance with the checklist is standard
In the past few weeks, federal and state associations of the German poultry industry have continuously sensitized their members to individual cases of bird flu in neighboring Eastern European countries and repeatedly appealed to compliance with biosecurity measures. Three years ago, together with the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), the ZDG drew up a comprehensive biosafety checklist to which all poultry farms adhere. “Maintaining a high standard of biosecurity is part of daily practice for our members. This must also apply to hobby keepers to the same extent,” Ripke appeals to all poultry keepers who – like the company in Baden-Württemberg – are not members of the association.
Bird flu is strictly an animal disease
Important to know: Bird flu is purely an animal disease. It is therefore of great importance to protect the stocks. The comprehensive hygiene measures of the biosecurity package include, for example, that the animal attendants change their clothes before entering the stables, disinfect their shoes, wash their hands and that work equipment and, if necessary, non-company vehicles are disinfected. By implementing these precautionary measures across the board, the industry is confident of stopping the spread of this animal disease.
