Bird flu alarm: over 143,000 animals died or killed in MV!

In autumn 2024, over 143,000 animals were killed in poultry posture due to bird flu in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MV). These measures primarily affected six larger poultry farms, which means a doubling of the affected companies compared to the previous year. From October 2023 to the beginning of February 2024, about 137,700 birds died in the region due to the virus.

The outbreak in the Stralsund Zoo, which was closed in early January 2025, was particularly serious after the virus was detected in the house poultry. In the zoo, more than 100 animals, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pearl chickens and pigeons, had to be killed. Further rehearsals, including a diluted Sichler, also showed positive virus evidence. Two cases were found in the Rostock Zoo at the end of 2024 in the event of chickens, but there were greater restrictions.

effects on poultry farming

In addition to the zoos and larger companies, smaller private attitudes and wild animals, such as swans, wild ducks, seagulls and cormorants, are also affected. There is a possibility that the bird flu can also infect mammals if they eat infected birds; So far, however, no virus has been detected in the wild mammals tested. The increase in evidence in autumn reflects the seasonality of the infection, with the bird flu spread all year round. The main transmission paths are due to wild birds, which is why further outbreaks will be expected in the coming weeks.

Another severe outbreak occurred in a poultry farming in the Rostock district, where 13,000 ducks and geese in Zarnewanz were killed near Ticino. This killing was completed by a special company with CO2 and Argon gas in the afternoon. A transfer of the virus by Kolkraben is suspected. The deputy district administrator Stephan Meyer (CDU) regretted the repeated outbreak in the same operation within three months. The company had sought to apply for a seal of approval for animal -friendly attitude (level 4).

The infected animals were reserved as Christmas roast, which led to an economic damage of several hundred thousand euros. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, a protective zone with a radius of three kilometers and a surveillance zone of ten kilometers was set up around the affected company. All poultry holders in the region are obliged to feed their animals in stables and to be soaked as well as to the veterinary office. Due to the bird train, the owners have to lock up their animals. The last outbreak in Zarnewanz was in August, where about 6,500 animals were killed.