December 15, 2020

State authorities in Brandenburg, Germany orders poultry to be kept indoors

The Brandenburg state government, based in east Germany, has ordered all poultry to be kept indoors to prevent contact with wild birds as bird flu continues to spread in the area, Reuters reported.

The order covers poultry farms near regions with water that attract wild birds, or any areas with a large concentration of poultry farms.

The Friedrich Loeffler animal disease institute in Germany said wild birds with bird flu are being detected close to a daily basis in the country, with 12 confirmed cases in farms and pet birds.

The Schleswig-Holstein state government, in north Germany, has also ordered poultry to be kept indoors in November.

Europe has reported several cases of highly pathogenic bird flu, with wild birds suspected to be spreading the disease. The region’s poultry industry is on high alert after previous outbreaks in the past have resulted in tens of millions of birds culled.

- Reuters