Avian influenza concern: Veterinary office warns of high risk of infection!

Avian influenza concern: Veterinary office warns of high risk of infection!

Avian influenza is currently a hot topic again - and not just in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district. The autumn migration of wild birds has led to a new entry of avian influenza viruses into the wild bird population, which considerably increases the risk of the virus being introduced into poultry farms. How Lokalo.de Reportedly, an increasing number of sick and dead cranes have been sighted in Rhineland-Palatinate, which is fueling experts' concerns.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has now upgraded the risk of viruses entering poultry farms and bird populations to “high”. The situation is particularly dramatic in Lower Saxony, where increased outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been recorded since September 2025. Restriction zones have already been set up in the Cloppenburg and Diepholz districts to contain the virus, reports the Lower Saxony Animal Disease Info.

Important information for poultry farmers

The veterinary office urgently appeals to all poultry farmers to follow the guidelines and optimize their biosecurity measures. It is best to include direct contact with wild birds and keeping them outdoors on the prohibited list. It is recommended not to feed chickens outdoors to minimize the risks of infection.

Reports of sick or dead birds are particularly worrying. If someone notices such a case, especially with cranes or waterfowl and birds of prey, this can be reported via a veterinary office hotline. The contact details can be found on the official website of the office.

A global problem

Like the information of the Lower Saxony animal disease information show, the HPAI H5 virus circulates worldwide and has also caused outbreaks in poultry flocks in the USA. Scientists emphasize that fewer than ten cases of human infection with HPAI H5 have been reported in Europe since 2020, but the risks remain high. In addition, the topic of vaccinating poultry against HPAI is still very controversial; vaccinations are currently generally prohibited in Germany.

A current assessment from October 2025 states that the risk of HPAIV H5 entries in poultry farms remains high in Germany. In the last few months, there have been over 20 HPAI outbreaks in several federal states, including in core polluters such as duck and turkey farms.

In summary, everyone who deals with poultry must be aware that the risk of infection increases all year round and especially in the winter months. Bettmer-Ziesig and other free-range egg lovers are well advised, the veterinary office has published clear guidelines. If you are not sure, you should find out whether your poultry farm is registered - this is an important measure to avoid the spread of avian influenza.

Further information and contact details for the veterinary office can be found on the official website. It is up to us to deal with this situation responsibly and protect our own poultry.