Culling ordered

Avian influenza detected in the district of Braunau

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in the district of Braunau on Wednesday. It concerns a farm keeping 150 chickens as well as some geese and ducks in the district of Braunau.

Some of the poultry have already died from the disease. The district authority has ordered the remaining animals to be killed. There is no danger to humans. Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease which, when it occurs, causes serious illness in a large number of birds and subsequently leads to their death.

No danger to humans
This must be kept to a minimum, both for animal welfare and economic reasons. We are currently dealing with the H5N1 strain. This influenza virus is not considered pathogenic to humans. "Even if avian influenza is repeatedly detected, it poses no danger to humans and is not transmitted via food," emphasizes State Veterinary Director Thomas Hain.

Protection zone established
A protection zone will be set up around the affected poultry house for at least 21 days and a surveillance zone for at least 30 days in order to quickly detect a potential occurrence in other poultry houses and prevent potential transmission. For this reason, poultry must be kept separate from wild birds in these zones. All poultry holdings within the protection zone (3-kilometer radius) are subject to official veterinary inspections.