Germany is currently facing one of its most severe outbreaks of avian influenza in recent years, with over 100 confirmed hotspots and more than half a million birds culled since early September 2025. The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread rapidly across the country, affecting both poultry farms and wild bird populations.
- According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Germany’s national animal disease research center, there have been 30 confirmed outbreaks in poultry facilities and 73 among wild birds.
- Authorities are also investigating 23 additional suspected cases, indicating that the outbreak may still be escalating.
- The worst-hit regions include Lower Saxony, Thuringia, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with cranes particularly affected.
- In Brandenburg alone, emergency services have reported thousands of dead wild cranes scattered across fields.
- The virus’s spread is being fueled by seasonal bird migrations, which are carrying the disease further southwest.
The FLI has raised the risk level for poultry farms from “low” to “high,” citing the unusual speed and scale of the outbreak. Experts warn that the situation could rival the devastating wave of 2021, when over 2 million birds were culled across Germany.
While the H5N1 virus poses minimal risk to humans under normal circumstances, its economic impact is already being felt. Poultry farmers are bracing for potential price hikes in eggs and poultry products, although industry leaders remain divided on the severity of the expected market disruption.
- Efforts to contain the outbreak include mass culling, movement restrictions, and enhanced biosecurity measures.
- However, the virus’s ability to infect a wide range of species—including ducks, geese, swans, and even mammals like foxes and otters—has raised concerns about its adaptability and potential for cross-species transmission.
German authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging poultry producers to remain vigilant and report any signs of illness. With the peak of the migratory season still underway, experts caution that the outbreak may not subside soon.
The current crisis underscores the need for long-term strategies to manage avian influenza, including improved surveillance, vaccination programs, and international cooperation to prevent future outbreaks.
Sources: Available upon request