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Bobenheim-Roxheim / Koblenz (dpa) - There is a suspected bird flu case in a bird park in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The virus with the designation H5N8 had been detected in a Hawaiian who died in Bobenheim-Roxheim (Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis) near the border with Hesse, the state investigation office in Koblenz said on Friday.
The confirmation of the result by the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health is still pending.
The district's veterinary office immediately blocked operations and had other animals examined for the pathogen.
According to the office, all birds in the bird park are now housed in stables.
The bird park is recognized as a zoological facility and has had a safety and hygiene concept for a long time.
In addition, there is an exemption permit, by means of which the killing of the birds can initially be dispensed with.
If the suspicion is confirmed, it would be the first case in a poultry farm in Rhineland-Palatinate for a long time.
"Since October 2020 a highly contagious variant of the bird flu virus H5N8 has spread massively in the wild bird population in Germany, poultry populations or animal parks are also repeatedly affected," said a spokeswoman.
The investigation will show whether the virus in the Rhine-Palatinate district is the same highly contagious pathogen.
The State Investigation Office advises all poultry farmers to re-examine their safety measures and to avoid contact with wild birds at all costs.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210122-99-135208 / 2