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Avian influenza outbreak in the Steinburg district: protection zones set up!
On September 2, 2025, an outbreak of avian influenza was confirmed in the Steinburg district, Schleswig-Holstein. Strict protective measures are being taken.
Avian influenza outbreak in the Steinburg district: protection zones set up!
In the last few days, worrying news has been received from Schleswig-Holstein: On September 2, 2025, the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, better known as avian influenza, was officially confirmed in a poultry farm in Hadenfeld, Steinburg district. The region is now preparing for the necessary measures to bring the situation under control. A exclusion zone was set up, consisting of a protection zone with a radius of 3 km and a monitoring zone at least 10 km away from the affected company.
Particularly explosive: parts of the neighboring districts of Rendsburg-Eckernförde and Dithmarschen also fall into the surveillance zone. Strict regulations apply to poultry farms there, including a stable housing requirement and a ban on the movement of live poultry. In order to contain the spread of the virus, the district veterinary office has already taken extensive measures and carried out numerous examinations in the surrounding poultry flocks.
Important safety measures for poultry farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture has called on poultry farmers in the region to review and strictly adhere to their biosecurity measures. It is particularly important to avoid direct and indirect contact between domestic poultry and wild birds. In addition to the current monitoring measures, poultry farmers should also ensure that when purchasing new animals, only healthy specimens are purchased. If there are noticeable symptoms or high animal losses, it is urgently recommended that a veterinary examination be carried out.
What is particularly alarming is that in the last few days a seagull found dead on Heligoland was identified as having the avian influenza subtype H5N1. This is the first detection of avian influenza infection in Schleswig-Holstein since January 20, 2025. On the same day, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute reported the first detection of the virus in a wild bird in autumn 2025.
Current situation in Germany and beyond
The HPAI virus, which causes highly pathogenic avian influenza, continues to circulate in Germany, according to information from tierseucheninfo.niedersachsen.de show. Numerous outbreaks have been recorded in Germany in recent years. There were 40 HPAI outbreaks in poultry between November 2024 and February 2025, which have been declining since February 2025. However, there are currently no exclusion zones in Lower Saxony due to HPAI outbreaks.
In an international context, the virus is spreading primarily in Asia and North America and has also affected dairy cattle and poultry herds in the USA. This leads to recommendations from the Foreign Office for travelers to the USA to avoid infections.
The situation requires vigilance with the foods we consume and responsible treatment of animals to prevent the spread of HPAI. The legally required protective measures to prevent the spread are essential for all poultry farmers and should be taken seriously. Anyone who can avoid contact with dead birds would do well to take appropriate precautions.
The next few weeks will show how well the containment measures are working and how the situation develops. Poultry farmers remain called upon to be vigilant and exercise appropriate caution.