Overview

• The Pfaffenhofen case marks Germany’s first confirmed human fatality from BoDV-1, with a second patient now receiving hospital care after severe neurological symptoms.
• In early June, multiple horses and a llama in Upper Bavaria succumbed to BoDV-1, underscoring the virus’s persistence in animal populations.
• Field shrews (Crocidura leucodon) are identified as the primary reservoir, shedding the virus through saliva, urine and feces.
• The Robert Koch Institute reports there is no specific treatment for BoDV-1 and that diagnosis relies on PCR testing of cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue.
• Health officials advise avoiding contact with shrews and their excreta, wearing protective gloves when handling wildlife and monitoring outdoor cats for signs of infection.