Xinhua Agency, Beijing, October 27. Germany's Friedrich Lovler Institute said on the 26th that in order to prevent the further spread of avian influenza in Germany, more than 30 commercial poultry farms have been forced to cull poultry. Preliminary data shows that about 400,000 chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys have been culled and disposed of.

According to DPA, the autumn and winter of 2020 are the worst season of bird flu epidemics in Germany since relevant data are available. Krista Kuhn, director of the institute, said that current data on bird influenza in Germany are similar to those at the time. Although it is impossible to accurately predict the trend of the epidemic, the outbreak points and the number of cases will further increase, and "the situation is full of variables."

The worst hit by the epidemic are Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, nearly 150,000 laying hens were culled at two outbreaks. A region in eastern Brandenburg announced on the 26th that it plans to cull about 130,000 chickens and ducks due to the discovery of avian influenza cases.

In addition, many states in Germany have taken measures to curb the spread of avian influenza, including setting up monitoring areas and ordering poultry to be kept in sheds. Several states have carried out preventive culling of thousands of livestock.

It is the season for migratory birds to migrate southward, but the peak of migration has not yet arrived. Friedrich Loeffler Institute said that the outbreak of this round of avian influenza was earlier than in previous years.

Germany's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs Alois Rinne said on Monday that there has been a "very rapid increase" in cases of avian influenza infection in the past two weeks, compared to the "abnormal" situation in the same period of the year.

Several states in eastern Germany have previously that poultry flu death rates are high and that the poultry flu virus has spread from poultry to other wild water birds.Given that wild birds infected with the virus are still able to fly at the beginning of the disease and may spread the virus to poultry farms on the migration path, the Friedrich-Lowler Institute has raised the risk of the German poultry farms from "low" to "high".

Quen reminded people to avoid contact with dead wild birds. Livestock farmers are also reminded to strictly follow hygiene protocols and prevent contact between poultry and wild birds. (Qiao Ying)