Unterallgäu – As in many other parts of Bavaria, avian influenza has now also been detected in the Unterallgäu. This is announced by the veterinary office at the Unterallgäu district office.
The so-called bird flu was found in several dead black-headed gulls that were found at Schlingener See, a reservoir of the Wertach. The Veterinary Office points out that safety measures have been in place since November last year to protect domestic and commercial poultry. These are regulated in a general decree issued by the Unterallgäu district office, like all district administrative authorities in Bavaria, as avian influenza is currently spreading nationwide.
Commercial poultry farmers, breeders and private individuals who keep poultry must observe so-called biosecurity measures. Poultry markets and exhibitions are prohibited and no wild birds may be fed, with the exception of songbirds. This is to prevent chickens, geese, ducks and other poultry species from coming into contact with wild birds. This is because the disease could be introduced into poultry farms.
In Bavaria, ten cases of bird flu have been detected in poultry farms since October 2022. In addition, there were many positive findings in wild birds. In the Unterallgäu, the current findings are the first cases since 2016. At that time, the virus was also detected in birds that died at the Wertach reservoirs. There has not yet been a case of bird flu in a poultry farm in the Unterallgäu. The veterinary office advises not to touch dead animals and to notify the authority if several dead birds are found in one place. The veterinary office then takes samples and has them tested for the virus at the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. Infection of humans with the pathogen via infected birds or their excretions has not yet been reported in Germany. Further information can be found at www.unterallgaeu.de/tierseuchen.
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