Nearly one million animals dead: Bird flu reaches record levels

According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), the spread of avian influenza in Germany is already comparable to the scale of the previous record year, 2021. The number of infections registered in the institute's reference laboratory is already higher than at the same time in 2021.

“We had a very early start to the wave of infections in 2025 and now we have to wait and see if it will also subside earlier,” said a spokeswoman for the Federal Institute for Animal Health, headquartered on the Baltic Sea island of Riems near Greifswald.

According to their figures, infections with the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza virus have been detected in 66 poultry farms across Germany since the beginning of September, some of which are very large. The number of poultry culled as a precautionary measure is now approaching one million. In addition, nearly 300 dead wild birds have been found to be infected with the avian influenza virus.

In 2021, according to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), avian influenza affected a total of 286 poultry farms, zoos, and private holdings. According to the trade press, more than two million farm animals were culled at that time. If the current rate of infection continues, similar figures are expected by the end of the year, the spokesperson said.

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Over the past weekend alone, approximately 15 new cases of infection were reported in poultry farms. This includes a large farm with nearly 30,000 animals in Western Pomerania.

According to reports, most outbreaks have occurred in Lower Saxony so far. Thirty farms are now affected there. Most recently, avian influenza was detected in a turkey breeding facility with nearly 7,000 animals. In Brandenburg, according to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), 11 livestock farms are affected, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 7, and in Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia 5 each.

In light of the large number of new infections, institute president Christa Kühn dampened hopes for a rapid decline in the current wave of avian influenza. A shift in the infection's spread towards the southwest is considered likely, as the virus is carried further by the autumn bird migration.

According to experts, migratory birds are carriers of avian influenza, which is often fatal for many bird and poultry species. However, the number of dead birds found does not reflect the actual viral load in the wild bird population. Many waterfowl shed the virus in their feces without becoming seriously ill themselves, it was stated.

To prevent the introduction of the virus into large poultry farms as much as possible, continued vigilance and strict adherence to hygiene regulations and protective measures are necessary, Kühn warned.

Following the discovery of dead cranes infected with H5N1, Saarland and Hamburg were the first German states to impose a statewide confinement order for poultry. In several other states, the confinement order is limited to specific regions.

RND/dpa