Overview
- The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut confirmed H5N1 in crane samples from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, with autumn migration cited as a key driver.
- Brandenburg reported a second farm outbreak this season in Amt Beetzsee, leading to the culling of about 6,200 turkeys after 2,900 ducks were destroyed days earlier in Märkisch-Oderland.
- Wild-bird mortality has surged at major staging sites, with several hundred—possibly up to 1,000—cranes reported dead at Linum and roughly 120 around the Kelbra reservoir.
- Local authorities have ordered poultry housing, banned access to the Kelbra shoreline on the Thuringian side, installed disinfection points and suspended poultry shows and markets.
- Expanding restriction zones are impacting producers and hobby keepers, including 247 farms with about 3.2 million birds in the Oldenburg district and 406 holdings in Diepholz, while officials say general population risk remains low and occupational exposure warrants caution.