Geflügelpest

Responsibility for reporting dead birds

The competent veterinary offices are responsible for reporting dead and sick birds (wild birds and domestic poultry). Finding a dead bird in a field or forest is a normal part of life; only if several birds have died at the same location should the veterinary office be informed.

What to do if bird flu is suspected (in animals and humans)

The competent veterinary authorities must be informed immediately if avian influenza is suspected in wild birds and domestic poultry.

Dead animals should never be handled without gloves or a plastic bag placed over the hand.

Dogs and cats should be denied access to sick and dead birds. There have been no known cases of disease in them to date, but they can contribute to the spread of the pathogen.

The infection has started in free-living waterfowl on the Baltic coast and on Lake Constance. The virus probably arrived here with the migratory birds and then infected the native birds. Birds that survive the disease develop antibodies and are then harmless.

Danger for animals (domestic poultry)

The responsibility for domestic poultry lies with their owners, who must inform the veterinary office if an outbreak is suspected. The provisions of the Avian Influenza Ordinance apply.

Domestic poultry are always at risk if there is direct (wild birds also eat) or indirect contact between wild and domestic poultry through the transmission of feces and feathers in particular.

All domestic poultry species except pigeons are at risk of contracting the H5N8 virus. In wild birds, ducks and geese were initially infected, but the virus is now also found in seagulls and birds of prey because they have eaten dead animals.

No cases of illness in mammals have been detected so far.

Danger for humans

Human cases of the current H5N8 virus have not yet been detected and have not yet been reported worldwide. A risk to humans is therefore considered to be low. Irrespective of this, all hygiene and biosecurity measures must be observed without restriction when handling birds, poultry and poultry meat, as poultry can also carry other pathogens.

Precautionary measures

Poultry owners can protect their animals by avoiding contact with wild birds for themselves and their animals. The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) has published a leaflet containing information on the necessary hygiene measures and is recommended for all poultry keepers.

The provisions of the Avian Influenza Ordinance apply to poultry farmers. And the Emergency Ordinance issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (BMEL) on November 18, 2016, which is expressly aimed at poultry farmers with fewer than 1,000 animals. It requires that poultry houses are secured so that unauthorized persons cannot enter and requires that the animal keeper wears protective clothing that is only intended for the house.

Dogs and cats should not be allowed into poultry houses at this time.

Handling poultry meat

Meat from sick animals or animals suspected of being infected is not sold, but is destroyed.

However, poultry meat from healthy animals can also be contaminated with bacterial or viral pathogens. For this reason, the usual hygiene measures must always be observed when processing poultry meat: In particular, the meat must be processed separately from other foods and it must be fully heated through. Utensils (e.g. plates, knives, cutting boards) that have come into contact with raw poultry meat must be washed and dried before they are used for other foods.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture (BMEL) and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) provide detailed information on their websites.

A map showing outbreaks of avian influenza is constantly updated. The information sheet for poultry farmers can be found there as well as a risk assessment.

At present, wild birds and domestic poultry living near water are suffering from avian influenza. The pathogen is the influenza virus H5N8. It is highly contagious for wild birds and domestic poultry and causes severe symptoms of the disease. Wild ducks die, occasionally also other water birds, gulls and predators. So far, no cases of the disease have been observed in mammals or humans.

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

Division 221

Phone: +49 (0) 3 0 / 1 85 29 - 0
Fax: +49 (3) 0 / 1 85 29 - 42 62

E-mail: poststelle@bmel.bund.de