Meinigen (dpa/th) - According to the authorities, the avian influenza in the district of Schmalkalden-Meinigen has been successfully combated. On Wednesday, the district office reported the lifting of the stable requirement. However, restrictions would continue to apply to poultry farmers along the Herpf River - a tributary of the Werra.
According to the district office, the owner of a private chicken and duck farm in Bettenhausen reported to the veterinary office in mid-January because he had significant chicken losses and many sick animals. A check revealed the H5N1 virus - the highly contagious form of avian influenza. The animals were then killed and the stables disinfected.
A second outbreak was found in a duck farm in Helmershausen. Here, too, all animals had to be culled, it was said. In both cases it turned out that the virus had gotten into the domestic poultry population via diseased ducks on the Herpf. Since then, all poultry within a radius of about ten kilometers has had to remain in the barn.
“The virus was no longer detected in any other company,” it said. However, not all restrictions would be lifted. Poultry farmers along the Herpf should not allow their animals to go outside for the time being. In addition, special care must be taken when entering the stables, such as special shoes and hand washing and disinfection.
"We have to assume that the avian influenza virus is still present in wild herpf birds," said official veterinarian David Sporn. Therefore, the stocks should be further protected and any contact with wild birds should be avoided. The restrictions initially apply until April 30th.
