Avian influenza in wild birds in the district of Landsberg

Created: 02/07/2022, 09:45 am

The avian influenza virus has been detected in five swans found dead on the Lech.

© Symbolic photo: Panthermediea

District – In the district of Landsberg, avian influenza has been detected in several wild birds.

According to the district office, this is the first evidence in the region.

This has consequences for poultry farmers: the district office has issued a general decree that requires stables for poultry farms along the Lech with more than 50 animals. 

The official determination of the "highly pathogenic avian influenza" - or avian influenza - by the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) took place last Thursday: The H5N1 avian influenza virus was detected and confirmed in a total of five swans found dead at the Lech floodplains 15 and 18 , according to District Office spokesman Wolfgang Müller.

“Many waterfowl spend the winter on the Lech in particular, which has repeatedly led to outbreaks of avian influenza in wild birds in recent years,” explains the head of the veterinary office, Dr.

Michael Veith.

Because it can be assumed that the bird flu virus will have spread again this year on the Lech, the district has issued a general decree (valid since February 4) that poultry farms along the Lech with more than 50 animals should be kept in stables.

The Lech is a large breeding and resting area for wild birds in southern Germany. Waterfowl are particularly relevant for the spread of the pathogen, explains Veith.

Therefore, regions close to the shore, where many waterfowl occur, breed or rest, are of particular importance - and the Lech is therefore a risk area.

Contacts of domestic poultry with wild birds, especially wild waterfowl, must be prevented at all costs.

Since it has now been established that there is a risk to livestock mainly through outdoor exercise, the risk of an outbreak in larger farms can be effectively reduced by arranging the stables, according to Veith.

The veterinary office has already informed all companies along the Lech with more than 50 animals.

In hobby stocks, on the other hand, only minor economic damage is to be feared.

Nevertheless, hobby owners are also recommended to keep their animals in the stable if possible or to secure them - for example with a roof and fence - in such a way that contact with wild birds is avoided.

The veterinary office asks you not to touch or take dead or sick wild birds, but to report them directly, phone: 08191-1291374.

Information on the general decree at:

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