The highly pathogenic avian influenza is on the advance again in Germany, Julia Ziegler, veterinarian in the district office, points out to the around 800 poultry farmers in the district and wants to sensitize them to the topic. Since mid-October 2021, she reports in a press release, there have been increasing cases of avian influenza again in Germany – especially in northern Germany. The positive findings in wild birds in the districts of Cham and Nürnberger Land showed that the current avian influenza incident has now also reached Bavaria.
“Even in the current situation, it is important for poultry farmers to review their biosafety and hygiene measures and, if necessary, to optimize them,” explains Ziegler. Particular caution applies above all to farms with possible external contact between kept poultry and wild waterfowl. Since a renewed stabling requirement for poultry keeping cannot be ruled out in 2021, the preparation of appropriate concepts for animal welfare and animal disease-compliant housing of poultry is of enormous importance. A brochure from the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety provides information and tips. It is available on the LGL homepage under the following link: https://www.lgl.bayern.de/publikationen/doc/huehnerhaltung_hobby.pdf.