Overview

• The Newcastle disease, a highly contagious and often fatal virus for birds, has been confirmed in multiple pigeons at Berlin's animal shelter.
• Eleven birds have died since mid-November, with ten testing positive for the virus; additional testing of the shelter's 360 birds is ongoing.
• The disease poses no risk to humans but is deadly for birds, prompting mandatory vaccinations for chickens and turkeys in Germany.
• Public visits to the shelter now require appointments, and staff have implemented rigorous disinfection protocols to prevent further transmission.
• Nearby poultry farms with more than 20 birds are undergoing precautionary inspections to check for symptoms and confirm vaccination compliance.