Bird flu warning: epidemic alarm in the Märkische Kreis!

Bird flu warning: epidemic alarm in the Märkische Kreis!

The outbreak of bird flu has reached the region of the Rodtrodt Wiblingwerde. On April 16, 2025, the dangerous virus H5N1 was detected at a stick duck, which alerted the responsible authorities. Last week the dead duck was discovered on a private site, followed by the official confirmation of the infection. In addition, the highly pathogenic poultry plague (HPAI) was found in a nearby private chicken population, which led to a dramatic loss of all 44 chickens held there. These animals died within a few days due to the severe course of the disease.

The localdirekt.de reports that the veterinary office of the Märkisches Kreis has initiated an increased monitoring of the animal disease. Poultry keeper, in particular hobby stops, are encouraged to check and improve the bios safety measures in their companies.

recommendations to the population

The population is urgently pointed out to report dead wild birds, especially if several are found in one place, the veterinary office or the responsible regulatory office. Touching or disposing of died or sick animals should not be carried out without suitable protective measures. On private property, it is advisable to collect dead birds with protective measures such as gloves and to dispose of it in household waste. It is also advisable to avoid the contact of pets to dead or sick wild birds.

In particular, the poultry holders are required to separate their animals from wild birds as best as possible and to keep them in safe stables. The highly pathogenic influenza is a serious viral disease that mainly affects wild birds and farm poultry. According to the Friedrich Löffler Institute, the disease is triggered by influenza-a viruses, which can be divided into highly pathogenic and low-pathogenic variants. The highly pathogenic subtypes H5 and H7 are particularly dangerous and can also manifest themselves with wild birds.

The virus is usually transmitted through direct or indirect contact, often via the excretions of infected animals. The risk of transmission to humans is extremely low. Nevertheless, cases are known in which people who had close contact with diseased poultry were infected. Since 2003 there have been around 850 confirmed diseases of people on H5N1, mainly in Asia. In Germany, on the other hand, no case of a transfer to humans has been documented so far.

The situation in Germany

In January 2024, nine outbreaks of highly pathogenic influenza were found in house poultry in Germany, including four laying hens and four private chicken preservation companies as well as a turkey fattening stock. The growing number of infection cases illustrates the need for preventive handling of poultry stocks, such as the case of Regina Weustermann, a poultry owner in the Märkische Kreis, who has strengthened her security measures. Your company comprises around 280 chickens and some geese, and to protect your animals, she uses sterile shoe covering and protective clothing.

The Friedrich-löffler-institut continuously analyzes data on wild birds and outbreaks of the poultry to get a comprehensive picture of the situation.