Poultry farms in a 500-meter strip on both sides of the Neckar and in the districts of Hessigheim, Benningen and Neckarweihingen are affected. Poultry farmers can use the following link to check whether the parcel of land on which they keep poultry is wholly or partly within one of the two 500-meter zones:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/699bcbef5a85453293359e68c9885ca2
Information can also be obtained from the Ludwigsburg District Office Veterinary and Food Monitoring Department, Hindenburgstr. 20/3, Room 111, 71638 Ludwigsburg, Tel. 07141 144-2031.
Requirements for keeping poultry indoors
Poultry may only be kept either in closed stables or under a device consisting of an overhanging, tight cover secured at the top against entry and a side boundary secured against the entry of wild birds. Nets or grids with a maximum mesh size of 25 millimetres can also be used as a top cover.
Under certain conditions, the veterinary office can approve exceptions to the obligation to keep birds in stables in individual cases. Anyone who violates the obligation to keep poultry indoors commits an administrative offense, which is punishable by a fine.
Poultry exhibitions and poultry markets prohibited
The stricter biosecurity measures continue to apply to all other poultry farmers in the district from the first animal onwards. The general ruling prohibits poultry exhibitions, poultry markets and events of a similar nature within the two 500-meter zones and in the districts of Hessigheim, Benningen and Neckarweihingen.
Virus continues to circulate in wild bird population
The infected wild birds were found exclusively on the natural banks of the Neckar, which serve as a resting and feeding area for waterfowl. Specialist authorities assume that the virus is still circulating in the wild bird population in the area of the banks of the Neckar. The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) still classifies the risk of the virus entering domestic poultry flocks as high.
Further information on avian influenza in the district of Ludwigsburg and references to further information from other authorities can be found at: https://www.landkreis-ludwigsburg.de/gesundheit-veterinaerwesen/veterinaerwesen/gefluegelpest/.
