Bird flu in Bergstrasse: Compulsory stables from Thursday for 10 municipalities!

Bird flu in Bergstrasse: Compulsory stables from Thursday for 10 municipalities!

The bird flu has now reached the Bergstrasse district and is causing excitement among farmers and animal owners. On October 29, 2025, two suspected cases of the highly contagious animal disease were confirmed. From October 30th, chickens and geese in the affected communities must be kept in stables. This regulation affects the communities of Bensheim, Biblis, Bürstadt, Einhausen, Groß-Rohrheim, Heppenheim, Lampertheim, Lorsch, Viernheim and Zwingenberg. This reports FFH.

The stable requirement specifically means that the animals may only be kept in the stable or under covers. These measures are important to prevent contact between poultry and wild birds. Those responsible in the affected communities are doing everything they can to contain the disease from spreading further. The virus was detected in two dead wild geese in Lampertheim and Bensheim, and other dead wild birds that have been reported are being sent to the state laboratory for testing.

Compulsory stables and nationwide measures

The bird flu (H5N1) is not only spreading in the Bergstrasse district, but is also a Germany-wide problem. According to daily news Federal states such as Hamburg, Brandenburg and Saarland have already imposed a stable requirement in order to contain the spread. Saarland was even the first federal state to take corresponding measures.

According to reports, tens of thousands of farm animals are affected and there are massive deaths of wild animals. In Brandenburg, around 155,000 animals had to be killed, which is reminiscent of the dramatic cases of 2016/2017. These regulations are also associated with financial risks for animal owners, as fines of up to 30,000 euros can be imposed for violations of the stable requirement.

Current developments and dangers

Bird flu is widespread in Germany all year round, but reaches its peak during bird migration in autumn. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has raised the risk of further outbreaks to “high”. Many cranes have already lost their lives and the concerns of animal owners are growing. It is estimated that around 2,000 cranes have already died from avian influenza, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Loud ZDF Over 200,000 animals were killed due to outbreaks in the fall, and the number of unreported cases could be even higher.

The population in Germany does not have to fear any acute health risks so far, as no transmission of H5N1 to humans has been detected. However, caution is advised: contact with dead birds should be avoided to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

With the ongoing challenges posed by bird flu, a great deal of responsibility now falls on the shoulders of animal owners, authorities and health institutions. Only together can we stop the spread of the disease and protect animal populations.