Saarland imposes mandatory indoor housing for poultry due to avian influenza

Saarbrücken. Following the outbreak of avian influenza, Saarland will be the first German state to impose a mandatory indoor housing order for poultry, starting October 30. The Saarland Ministry of the Environment announced that this general order was issued by the State Office for Consumer Protection (LAV) to protect Saarland's breeding and domestic poultry flocks, as well as other kept birds.

Following the first confirmed case of the H5N1 virus in a wild bird in Saarland, the state office is now reacting with strict protective measures. To further prevent the spread of avian influenza, all events involving poultry will be prohibited from October 30th. Compliance with these measures will be monitored by the Ministry of the Environment and the state office.

According to the ministry, fines of up to 30,000 euros can be imposed for violations of the mandatory confinement of livestock.

The risk of human infection is considered extremely low and has so far only been described in rare cases involving people who have had very close contact with infected poultry, it was stated. "According to the Robert Koch Institute, there has not yet been a single case in Germany."

RND/dpa