Cases of avian influenza detected
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) reports that avian influenza has been detected in a wild duck in Hamburg, a common buzzard in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and various wild birds in Schleswig-Holstein. The Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), confirmed this on Friday. So far these have only been isolated cases.
The FLI (Friedrich Loeffler Institute) had already pointed out at the beginning of October that migratory birds can also infect wild birds with avian influenza in autumn and classified the risk of entry into Germany as high. The competent authorities of the federal states are now asked to monitor the situation closely and to intensify surveillance measures with regard to dead or sick wild birds.
Auch poultry farmer are encouraged to take precautions and monitor their stocks. The local authority responsible for animal disease control decides on the specific measures.
The BMEL points out: Even if there is no known transmission of the H5N8 and H5N5 virus types detected in these cases to humans, dead birds should not be touched, also to prevent the pathogen from being spread. Basically, the general hygiene and protective measures when handling poultry and wild birds must be consistently observed. There are no restrictions on trade with the outbreak of avian influenza in wild birds.
Hintergrund:
Avian influenza is a particularly severe form of avian influenza in poultry and other birds, which is caused by highly pathogenic influenza viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes. It is an infectious disease known in veterinary medicine since the end of the 19th century.
