In the outbreak farm itself, all laying hens were killed on Wednesday, March 24, in accordance with animal welfare regulations and the necessary cleaning and disinfection measures were implemented. There is currently no information that the avian influenza virus has spread. The known poultry holdings in the designated restricted area have already all been clinically tested for signs of the presence of the avian influenza pathogen with negative results. The results of the samples already tested from these holdings were also negative in each case. According to the information currently available, the avian influenza pathogen was introduced via the purchase of laying hens from a poultry trading company in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Due to the provisions of the Avian Influenza Ordinance, a restricted area must be established within a radius of three kilometers around the outbreak farm and an observation area within a radius of ten kilometers. The specifications for the restricted area and the observation area will be published as part of a general ruling. The general ruling will be posted on the district administration's website and published as an official notice in the local press with legal effect.
The following points, among others, must be observed in the restricted area:
- All poultry such as chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, partridges, pheasants, ratites, quails, ducks and geese or other captive birds must be kept indoors or protective devices, e.g. in the form of nets to protect them from wild birds, must be installed.
- Requirements for reporting poultry farmers to the veterinary office.
- Movement bans for live poultry, mammals, poultry meat and eggs from and into poultry flocks.
- Compliance with biosecurity measures and epidemic hygiene measures to prevent the introduction and spread of avian influenza.
The following points, among others, must be observed in the observation area:
- As it is currently not expected that avian influenza will be introduced via wild birds, a general obligation to keep poultry in the observation area will not be imposed for the time being.
- Requirements for notification of poultry farmers to the veterinary office.
- Movement bans for live poultry, poultry meat and eggs from and into poultry flocks.
- Compliance with biosecurity measures and epidemic hygiene measures to prevent the introduction and spread of avian influenza.
In both the observation area and the restricted zone, there are exceptions for table eggs that are distributed via approved egg packing stations and marked with the producer code (egg print).
A detailed list of all measures in the restricted zone and the observation area can be found in the general ruling. In all likelihood, the restricted zone will remain in place until April 14. After that, the current restricted area will become an observation area. If there are no further events in the dynamic epidemiological situation, all restricted areas in the district will be lifted after April 23.
