At the beginning of this week, new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) were confirmed in two further poultry farms, as well as in wild birds found dead in the existing restricted zone (protection and surveillance zone) in the district of Amstetten (Lower Austria). The areas currently affected can be found at www.kvg.gv.at.

The existing restricted zones will be adapted to the new outbreaks. A general obligation to keep poultry indoors applies to these restricted zones, even for small farms with fewer than 50 animals. Poultry and their products such as eggs, meat etc. may only be taken out of the restricted zone with official authorisation.

The restrictions in the restricted zone remain in place for at least 30 days from the provisional cleaning and disinfection of the outbreak farm. The veterinary authorities are closely monitoring further developments.

Biosecurity measures now particularly important

Due to the increased occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Ministry of Health recommends that all poultry farmers pay particular attention to compliance with biosecurity measures: direct and indirect contact between poultry and wild birds should be prevented as far as possible. If the animals have health problems, a veterinary examination should be carried out and avian influenza should be ruled out. Important to know: Every poultry farm, even if it is just one animal, must be registered with the competent district administrative authority.

Short videos on avian influenza

For early detection and the prevention of further spread, it is now all the more important that wild waterfowl and birds of prey found dead are reported to the locally responsible district administrative authority (official veterinarian). Such animals should not be touched and should be left where they are found. The responsible authority will arrange for recovery and testing.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus can be transmitted very easily to domestic poultry through infected wild birds or their faeces and is usually fatal for chickens and turkeys. No cases of disease have been detected in humans in Europe to date. In very close contact with infected birds (e.g. workers in poultry farms), it is possible in rare cases for avian influenza A viruses to be transmitted to humans and cause flu-like illness in them.

Information from the province of Lower Austria on the current outbreaks of the disease