Bird flu in the Alb-Donau district: 15,000 animals culled, family desperate!

Bird flu in the Alb-Donau district: 15,000 animals culled, family desperate!

Bird flu has broken out in the Alb-Donau district, Baden-Württemberg. As SWR reports, this is a drastic incident that affects the poultry farming of a family that has been working in this industry for many decades. The first cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 were detected on the affected poultry farm. A suspicion was expressed on Monday, and the findings came on Tuesday evening.

A total of 15,000 animals, including geese, chickens, turkeys and ducks, had to be killed in an animal welfare manner. This drastic measure followed immediately after the suspicion report was made in order to prevent the virus from spreading further, as the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection explains in a recent statement. The virus was confirmed by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute on the island of Riems. The entire poultry population was immediately locked down and a specialist company had disinfected all the stables.

The way back to normality

The family now faces many unanswered questions. In particular, the family is concerned about potential compensation from the animal disease fund and support from the employment agency. The process as to when animals can be taken in for breeding again remains uncertain. The emotional burden caused by the current situation is enormous and the sympathy in the small community of Öllingen with its 550 residents is palpable.

Minister Peter Hauk emphasizes the high priority of biosecurity measures, which are essential to protect against the spread of the disease. In other parts of Germany, tens of thousands of animals have also been culled due to bird flu, which illustrates the explosive situation. In addition, the number of dying cranes, which may also be affected by the disease, has increased.

The affected family receives numerous offers of support from the community and beyond. In difficult times, solidarity is strong and shows that people in the region stick together through thick and thin. The events surrounding bird flu make it clear once again how vulnerable agriculture and animal breeding are in these times.

Overall, the responsible animal health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and implementing the necessary measures to contain the spread of the virus. Those responsible are sure that with quick action something worse can be prevented and hope that conditions will return to normal soon.