2024-11-07 14:44:00
The whole of Austria has been declared an area with an increased risk of bird flu. The Ministry of Health announced that stricter safety measures will apply in poultry farming from Friday. 25 districts in Lower and Upper Austria, Styria, Salzburg, Carinthia and Burgenland are classified as areas with a greatly increased risk. Here, stables are mandatory for 50 or more animals. There are confirmed cases in five companies, and the armed forces will help with decontamination.
Throughout Austria, feeding animals outdoors is prohibited due to the risk classification and contact between poultry and wild birds must be prevented using nets or roofs, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health, which is also responsible for animal protection. New cases of bird flu were recently identified in four farms with a total of around 200,000 animals in Upper and Lower Austria. Another suspected case in a turkey farm in the Amstetten district was also confirmed, State Councilor Susanne Rosenkranz (FPÖ) announced in a broadcast shortly afterwards.
If an outbreak occurs, the affected animals on the farm must be killed, explained Ulrich Herzog, head of veterinary services at the Ministry of Health, during a background discussion. This is done according to certain standards and in accordance with animal welfare. There are companies with a lot of experience in our neighboring countries, reported the expert from the ministry, which is also responsible for animal protection. It is also “important to work with professionals” because of the burden on everyone involved. Financial compensation for the owners is regulated accordingly.
The so-called avian influenza or avian influenza is mainly transmitted between birds and, depending on the subtype, the animals often become seriously ill and die. Chickens, turkeys and numerous species of wild birds are particularly affected. Transmission to mammals is also possible, but human infections and deaths are rare. The (A)H5N1 subtype currently occurring in Europe is poorly adapted to humans and diseases have not yet been observed in Europe, emphasizes the Agency for Health and Food Security (AGES).
Especially with the now colder temperatures, the virus in the feces of infected animals can remain contagious for more than 30 days, said Friedrich Schmoll, head of the animal health division at AGES, during the background discussion. The number of bird flu cases in wild birds has also recently increased. “In order to contain the spread, the whole of Austria is now declared an area with increased risk,” explained the Ministry of Health in the broadcast. A corresponding regulation was published on Thursday and will come into force at midnight.
In Lower Austria, due to the bird flu outbreak, an assistance operation by the Federal Army starts on Friday morning in the Amstetten district. Soldiers from the decontamination group of the NBC defense company Korneuburg will move out. They are supposed to disinfect vehicles in a lock before transporting dead animals away and prevent the disease from spreading further. The outbreak in Lower Austria has now been confirmed in four companies in the Amstetten district.
The assistance operation is expected to last until Sunday. According to the army, 18 soldiers will be deployed in the affected companies. In the respective locks, the wheel arches and underbody of the vehicles as well as the containers in which the dead animals are transported are disinfected, it was emphasized in a press release. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) emphasized the “impressive and tireless commitment of the armed forces”.
(SERVICE – Overview of the risk areas: verbrauchergesundheit.gv.at/tiere/krankenen/ai.html – AGES for bird flu: ages.at/mensch/krankserreger-von-a-bis-z/vogelgrippe)
List of Salzburg municipalities with mandatory stables
The stable requirement for poultry farms applies in the city of Salzburg and specifically in the following Flachgau communities: Anif, Anthering, Bergheim, Berndorf bei Salzburg, Bürmoos, Dorfbeuern, Elixhausen, Elsbethen, Fuschl am See, Göming, Henndorf am Wallersee, Hof bei Salzburg, Köstendorf, Lamprechtshausen, Mattsee, Neumarkt am Wallersee, Nußdorf am Haunsberg, Oberndorf near Salzburg, Obertrum am See, Sankt Georgen near Salzburg, Sankt Gilgen, Schleedorf, Seeham, Straßwalchen, Strobl, Thalgau, Wals-Siezenheim and Seekirchen am Wallersee.
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**Interview with Ulrich Herzog, Head of Veterinary Services at the Austrian Ministry of Health**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ulrich. Austria has recently declared a heightened risk for avian influenza due to the current outbreak. Can you explain what this declaration means for poultry farmers across the country?
**Ulrich Herzog:** Thank you for having me. The declaration of increased risk means that we are implementing stricter safety measures for poultry farming, especially in the 25 districts identified across Lower and Upper Austria, Styria, Salzburg, Carinthia, and Burgenland. Farmers must now keep their poultry indoors if they have 50 or more birds, and we are prohibiting outdoor feeding to limit contact between domestic birds and wild ones.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite significant. Can you share any details regarding the recent outbreaks and how they were detected?
**Ulrich Herzog:** Certainly. We’ve confirmed cases in several farms that collectively house around 200,000 birds. The outbreaks were identified through routine monitoring and testing. As a proactive measure, we have additional resources from the armed forces to assist with decontamination efforts at affected sites.
**Interviewer:** What measures are in place for farms that experience an outbreak?
**Ulrich Herzog:** In the unfortunate event of an outbreak, we will follow strict protocols to cull affected animals humanely and in accordance with animal welfare standards. We have protocols modeled after best practices established by our neighboring countries. Importantly, financial compensation for affected farmers is regulated to help mitigate their losses.
**Interviewer:** There seems to be growing concern about transmission to humans. What can you tell us about this?
**Ulrich Herzog:** It’s important to clarify that while avian influenza primarily transmits between birds, human infections are extremely rare. The strain currently circulating in Europe, the H5N1 subtype, is poorly adapted to humans. The Agency for Health and Food Security has emphasized that, as of now, no human cases have been observed in Europe.
**Interviewer:** With colder temperatures, how does this impact the virus’s longevity in the environment?
**Ulrich Herzog:** Colder weather can indeed allow the virus to remain infectious for over 30 days in the feces of infected birds. This makes it critical to contain the spread, which is why we’ve declared the entire country an area of increased risk. It’s vital that we adapt our strategies to prevent further transmission, especially as the colder months approach.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for the insights, Ulrich. It sounds like there are very serious implications for both animals and farmers, but also for public health. What message do you want to send to poultry farmers and the public regarding this outbreak?
**Ulrich Herzog:** The key message is the importance of vigilance and proactive measures. Poultry farmers must adhere strictly to the new regulations to protect their flocks and the industry as a whole. For the general public, it’s vital to stay informed and report any unusual bird behavior or mortality. Together, we can minimize the risk of further outbreaks.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ulrich. We appreciate your time and clarity on this serious issue.
