Avian influenza: Bautzen district takes protective measures

Following the outbreak of avian influenza in eastern Saxony, the district of Bautzen has now also taken protective measures. In the town of Weißenberg with its districts and the municipality of Malschwitz, poultry must be kept indoors immediately, the district office in Bautzen announced.

From this Thursday at the latest, livestock owners who keep poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese or turkeys in the affected areas must keep their animals in closed stables or under suitable protective devices. The aim of the measure is to prevent any direct or indirect contact between domestic poultry and wild birds.

Poultry farmers outside the affected areas are strongly advised to keep them indoors as well, it said. At the same time, a district-wide ban on poultry exhibitions, poultry markets and similar events will apply from Thursday.

At the end of last week, the outbreak of avian influenza was officially confirmed in the neighboring district of Görlitz. Avian influenza is an infectious disease. It is also known colloquially as bird flu. It is highly contagious and can quickly become fatal in many bird and poultry species.