As a current bird flu outbreak in the Amstetten district shows for the first time in a large laying hen farm, bird flu is also on the rise in the Austrian commercial poultry population. While in recent years bird flu has been detected to a large extent in dead wild birds in Austria, but hardly any farmed poultry was affected, in recent weeks there have been an increasing number of cases in domestic and farm poultry. The infection pressure from bird flu is rising particularly early this year and more strongly than in recent years. This trend is also confirmed by increased outbreaks of bird flu in neighboring countries. The viral disease, also known as avian influenza or avian influenza, is highly contagious for poultry and quickly leads to death in the animals. In order to avoid greater animal suffering but also greater economic damage, the Austrian poultry industry is now demanding, in addition to increased biosecurity regulations in the farms, a temporary requirement for poultry to be kept in Lower Austria and Upper Austria. The official measures taken at the affected company were successful and show that the animal disease control system in Austria basically works well. It is not possible to transmit bird flu to humans from eggs or poultry. However, the European supply situation for eggs is becoming more scarce due to bird flu.
Bird flu widespread
Every year, millions of wild birds and especially farm poultry die worldwide from the highly contagious bird flu. Scientists have developed a vaccine that is already being used in France. The first results are promising and give hope. There are tried and tested control programs in the European Union with legally binding regulations for Austria, with the aim of reducing the spread of bird flu. However, the virus continues to spread in all parts of Europe and worldwide, especially through migratory birds.
Thanks to strict hygiene measures at Austrian companies, the animal disease was unable to cause any major damage in Austria until recently. The Chairman of the Austrian Poultry Health Service QGV, Gerhard Skreinig, emphasizes that animal health is very important in Austria. Poultry farms in Austria are required to be looked after by a specialist poultry veterinarian. Together with the animal owners, they take care of keeping the animals healthy. “All veterinary medicines necessary for the health of the animals are entered into a database. If there are any abnormalities, especially a suspected epidemic, animal owners and veterinarians immediately report the case to the official veterinarian, who, together with the state veterinary authority and in good coordination with the Ministry of Health, initiates the necessary measures. The long-standing, good cooperation with the authorities in combating animal diseases is also having an effect in the current case,” said the QGV chairman.
Current case of bird flu in the Amstetten district
As soon as the laboratory confirmed the infection of the affected farm’s flock with bird flu, the official preparations went into full swing. Necessary measures were implemented quickly and correctly. However, the surviving animals in the affected stable had to be killed professionally in order to avoid the spread of the animal disease to neighboring farms as much as possible. The Chairman of the Austrian poultry industry, Markus Lukas, is now appealing to the authorities, especially to protect the animals, to expand safety measures and to impose a temporary obligation to use stables for all of Lower Austria and Upper Austria. “We see how rapidly the animal disease is spreading in Europe, especially through infected wild birds. If we do not now quickly take significantly stricter protective measures for Austrian poultry, then it may be that we will no longer be able to slow down the development. Not only would we lose thousands of animals and risk animal suffering, we would also jeopardize the economic development of domestic poultry farmers, who have been in dire straits in recent years due to price increases for production materials and volatile sales situations,” emphasizes the chairman of the Austrian poultry industry.
Supply secured
“The supply of Austrians with local eggs and poultry meat is secured,” says the Deputy Chairman of the Austrian poultry industry, DI Heinz Schlögl, convinced. The food retail sector can also be supplied with sufficient, high-quality eggs and poultry meat from Austria during sales peaks, although the supply situation is described as tight in Europe overall, not least due to bird flu outbreaks. Bird flu cannot be transmitted to humans through foods such as eggs and poultry. The eggs from the affected farm were nevertheless disposed of preventively in accordance with the applicable legal situation.