Bird Flu suspected in Crane Deaths at Kelbra Reservoir
Mansfeld-South harz, Germany โ – Initial laboratory tests have indicated โขthe presence of avian influenza in a crane carcass found near the Kelbra reservoir, closeโ to the Thuringia state border. Authorities in โThuringia announced the preliminaryโฃ positive result on Friday, โwith a โsecond sample dispatched to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute onโฃ the island of Riems for confirmation. Results from the institute โฃare expected Saturday.
More than 50โข dead cranes have been discoveredโ in the area, โparticularly along the reservoir bank and dam wall, with additional birds exhibiting โsigns of illness. Theโ State Office for Consumer Protection in Stendal has been notified. โคA single dead โขcrane was also reported friday in the โขKyffhรคuser โdistrict of โฃthuringia by a local farmer.
In response to the findings, disinfection โฃstations have โคbeen established aroundโ the reservoir โขand dam wall. Access to the area is currently restricted to personnel from the veterinaryโ office, dam operations, andโค otherโ essential emergency โservices.
The Mansfeld-South Harz โขdistrict administration is recommending that local poultry farmersโ house their birds indoors as a precautionary measure. Neighboring districts in โคThuringia have been alerted to the โคsituation. Planned crane observationโข hikes organized by the Kyffhรคuser Nature Park for Saturday have been canceled.
Aboutโข Avian Influenza: Avian influenza, commonly known as birdโข flu, is a highly contagiousโ infectious โdisease. While generally posing โno danger to โhumans, strict โprotectiveโ measures areโ implemented to prevent its spread โฃto poultry and livestock. Should the current suspicion be confirmed, affected districts will be required to enact control measures, โขincluding mandatory housing for poultry and the establishmentโค of restricted zones.
