Bird flu strikes: Offenbach and Berlin on alert!

On January 10, 2025, a confirmed case of bird flu (H5N1) in Frankfurt was registered with a Canadagans in Frankfurt-Eschersheim. This meant that the Office for Veterinary and Consumer Protection of the City of Offenbach calls poultry owners for increased caution. It is possible that parts of Offenbach will be declared a surveillance zone, although no official measures such as a general installation obligation have currently been ordered. Poultry holders are encouraged to strengthen hygiene measures and strictly observe the necessary bios safety measures.

The authorities emphasize the importance of hygiene precautions in the stables to prevent virus dragging. In the case of unusual signs of illness or an increased mortality rate in the stable, the owners should immediately notify a veterinarian. In addition, all poultry holders are obliged to report their inventory to the veterinary office, even if only one animal is kept. Allen-based water poultry, such as swans, ducks or geese, as well as gripping and raven birds, must be reported to the veterinary office immediately. Wild birds are often reservoir for highly pathogenic avian influenza, while there is no risk of infection for songbirds and pigeons. At the current time, the danger to user poultry is estimated to be low, since the case is a wild animal. Poultry owners should watch the situation vigilant and take the warnings of the authorities seriously, as Of-news.de reported.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Berlin

In Berlin, a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was also found in a wild bird. An infected gray goose was found in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district and killed due to serious symptoms. The examination of the animal body was carried out in the Landeslabor Berlin-Brandenburg (LLBB), and the H5N1 virus type was confirmed on Friday by the national reference laboratory at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. In Germany, the subtype H5N1 has already been proven over 200 times in wild birds and 27 times in birds.

This represents the second detection of the virus in Berlin this year after it was found in February at a seed goose. The virus previously performed in Berlin in November 2022 in a zoo bird and in 2023 with seven wild birds, which led to a temporary closure of the zoological garden. The subtype H5N1 can be transferred to humans in individual cases; So far, however, no transfer from person to person has been proven. Citizens are asked to report dead water, raven or birds of prey to enable an examination. Sick or died animals should not be touched and feathers should not be collected. Smaller songbirds and pigeons are not particularly susceptible to the poultry plague pathogen. Poultry holders are asked to protect their animals from contact with wild birds, since feed, litter and drinking should be inaccessible to wild birds. In addition, all non -registered poultry postures must be reported immediately, such as Berlin.de informed.