Germany’s Minister for Agriculture, Alois Rainer, explained at the Agriculture Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 27 October that, unlike in previous years, there had been a “shift with regard to the species concerned” by avian influenza.
Due to “a change in flight periods or migration routes”, cranes, which “previously had no contact with the avian influenza virus”, came into close contact with other infected migratory birds, he added. “The cranes then become seriously ill with avian influenza”, explained Mr Rainer.
The Spanish minister, Luis Planas, spoke of the slaughter of more than 2.3 million laying hens in Spain, with serious economic consequences.
The European Commission has stated that “biosecurity measures on farms and throughout production chains, including the rapid confinement of poultry indoors, remain our main means of defence”. Member States may also use vaccination as a complementary tool to prevent or control avian influenza. Some countries are already using it as part of their vaccination plans, the institution added. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)