Germany Warns of a Widespread Bird Flu Outbreak and Announces Emergency Measures to Contain It
German Agriculture Minister Alois Reiter warned on Friday of a rapid rise in bird flu cases across the country over the past two weeks, describing the situation as “serious and unusual.”
In an official statement, Reiter said: “There are currently many outbreaks among wild birds and in poultry farms, which is typical for this time of year. However, the rapid increase over the past fourteen days confirms the urgent need for coordinated action to control the virus.”
The minister added that authorities are working to strengthen preventive measures in farms and breeding centers, in cooperation with local bodies, to protect livestock and prevent the spread of infection.
This warning comes after more than a thousand dead cranes were found near Berlin, believed to have died due to a widespread bird flu outbreak.
The Ministry of Agriculture in the state of Baden-Württemberg also announced on Thursday the culling of about 15,000 birds at a poultry farm in the south of the country, after the Friedrich Loeffler Institute for Animal Health confirmed the presence of the virus at the farm.
German authorities confirmed that they are closely monitoring developments, emphasizing the importance of breeders adhering to health protection measures and applying quarantine protocols when any symptoms appear in birds.
