Bird flu: Mandatory stables in the Germersheim district will end soon - be careful!

Bird flu: Mandatory stables in the Germersheim district will end soon - be careful!

A ray of hope for poultry farmers in the Germersheim district: the obligation to keep stables, which was imposed due to the spread of bird flu, ends on January 1, 2026. Like that Rhine Palatinate reported, the order was not extended because the situation has noticeably relaxed. The spread of the virus has slowed and there are currently no new cases reported in the district.

Despite this positive development, caution remains advised. The causative agent of the bird flu virus is still active in the environment, especially in dead wild birds such as gray herons and swans. The veterinary office recommends poultry farmers to minimize contact between their poultry and wild birds. Practical measures to reduce risk are expressly recommended:

• Ausläufe und Futterstellen sollen abgedeckt werden.
• Eine strikte Trennung von Straßen- und Stallkleidung ist wichtig.
• Die Hygiene sollte durch Hände-Desinfektion vor und nach Stallbesuchen gewahrt werden.
• Futter und Materialien müssen so gelagert werden, dass Wildvögel keinen Zugriff haben.
• Die Eingänge zu Ställen sollten gut gesichert werden.

Situation in Germany

However, the situation surrounding bird flu remains tense. Loud daily news The H5N1 virus continues to spread in Germany, with tens of thousands of farm animals killed and massive death rates among wild birds. The federal states of Hamburg, Brandenburg and Saarland are particularly affected, as they have consistently imposed stable requirements in order to contain the spread.

In Brandenburg, for example, around 155,000 animals have already had to be culled, and the number of wild birds that have fallen ill or died from the disease is alarming. The poultry industry is therefore proposing a nationwide compulsory housing requirement in order to get the situation under control. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute also warns of a possible increase in outbreaks. New cases of infection are reported every day, which illustrate the risk potential.

Local measures and reports

The public is urged to report suspicious or dead birds so that action can be taken as quickly as possible. Reports can be made in an environmentally friendly and straightforward manner by email to the veterinary office (veterinaeramt@kreis-germersheim.de) or by telephone on 07274 53 410. There is also a legal reporting requirement for poultry farmers themselves, which must be taken seriously.

In summary, it remains important for everyone involved to remain vigilant and take recommended actions. This care can protect both domestic animals and wild birds while maintaining stability in the poultry market. Further information on the situation can be found at www.kreis-germersheim.de/tierhalte.