Home / Environment / Germany Confirms Bird Flu Outbreak in Brandenburg Poultry
Germany Confirms Bird Flu Outbreak in Brandenburg Poultry
10 Nov
Summary
- Bird flu H5N1 confirmed in a domestic poultry holding in Brandenburg.
- Approximately 160 birds were culled as a precaution.
- Risk of spread among wild birds is high due to migration.
Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in a domestic poultry holding located in Brandenburg, the German state surrounding Berlin. This marks the first detection of the virus in such a setting this autumn.
Authorities responded by ordering the humane culling of approximately 160 birds, encompassing ducks, geese, and chickens, within the Havelland district. Protection and surveillance zones have been implemented around the affected premises to contain any potential spread.
The national reference laboratory, Germany's Friedrich Loeffler Institute, assessed the risk of the virus spreading among wild birds as high. This assessment is attributed to the ongoing autumn migration of wildfowl, which can serve as carriers for avian influenza.
Earlier this month, bird flu was also identified in a wild goose in Brandenburg's Oder-Spree district, indicating a broader presence of the virus in the region's wild bird population.
