Red alert in the Cham district: Avian influenza is spreading!

Red alert in the Cham district: Avian influenza is spreading!

Avian influenza is again on the rise in the Cham district. How mittelbayerische.de reported, the district office has already responded with a general order dated October 31, 2025. The aim of these measures is to prevent the disease from spreading further. Accordingly, expanded biosecurity measures for poultry farming and a ban on feeding wild birds were ordered.

Access to stables and hygiene regulations are particularly important. Stables must be secured against unauthorized access. Persons entering these stables are required to wear protective clothing and to dispose of or disinfect it properly after leaving the stable. Disposable protective clothing must be disposed of immediately. Vehicles and equipment also require extensive cleaning and disinfection to ensure the safety of the inventory.

Biosecurity measures in focus

According to the guidelines of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, avian influenza is a serious health risk that can primarily be transmitted through direct contact with infected wild birds. The LGL recommends minimizing the contact areas between poultry and wild birds as much as possible. Measures to prevent infection include, for example, secure accommodation of poultry in closed stables and hygienic storage of feed.

There are also strict regulations for poultry farmers regarding the recording of dead animal finds. Owners with populations of up to 100 animals are obliged to record the number of animals that died on a weekly basis. For populations of more than 1000 animals, the total number of eggs laid each day must also be recorded. The veterinary authorities must also be alerted if avian influenza is suspected.

Caution and prevention

The Avian Influenza Ordinance requires poultry farmers to register their operations with the relevant authority, which includes detailed disclosure of the number, species and location of the animals. All arrivals and departures of poultry are subject to documentation BMLE emphasizes that in the event of losses of at least three animals in just 24 hours as well as disproportionate losses of over 2%, a veterinarian must be consulted.

The authorities also warn of the high risk of infection for poultry farmers, especially when hunting waterfowl. Special care is required here. It is also recommended that access for non-employees should only be granted with appropriate protective clothing. In view of the increased risk, a compulsory installation could be declared at short notice.

In times when avian influenza is becoming more prevalent, all farmers are required to strictly adhere to the measures in order to ensure the safety of their flocks and the entire poultry industry. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop further; However, it is important that if there are any abnormalities, the Cham Veterinary Office is contacted immediately on 09971/78-224.