Avian influenza fear: Miltenberg waives the obligation to keep stables for the time being!

Avian influenza fear: Miltenberg waives the obligation to keep stables for the time being!

In the Miltenberg district, the situation surrounding avian influenza is currently still under control. Loud Miltenberg district There is currently no obligation for poultry farmers to have stables. But attentive farmers are required because the risk of infection should not be underestimated.

Avian influenza has gained momentum in Germany. The first outbreak was detected in a flock of geese in the Dingolfing-Landau district at the beginning of October. Since then, there has been an increase in outbreaks in wild birds. There are many positive findings of the H5N1 virus, particularly among waterfowl and birds of prey. This is particularly concerning as transmissions from wild birds to domesticated poultry are expected in the next few weeks Tmasgff reported.

The situation of wild birds

The spread of avian influenza in wild birds is dynamic. Since September 22, 2025, 17 outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 have been detected in wild birds throughout Germany. The species affected are primarily wild geese and cranes. Current findings indicate infections in Thuringia, where cranes at the Kelbra reservoir are affected. Access to the reservoir is now closed to visitors to minimize the risk of further spread.

Authorities are being asked to collect and dispose of animal carcasses to control the spread of the virus. In the Kyffhäuser district, stables have already been ordered and the exhibition of susceptible animals is prohibited. In other affected districts, such as Nordhausen and Sömmerda, final confirmations are still pending.

Biosecurity measures are required

In order to minimize the risks, biosecurity measures on farms are essential. Farmers and private poultry farmers are supported by the Poultry Health Service, veterinarians and veterinary offices. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) also publishes useful information on risk assessment, which determines a high risk of HPAIV H5 being introduced into poultry farms through contact with wild birds. In this context, the Minister of Social Affairs Katharina Schenk explicitly urges people to protect domestic poultry populations and to report suspicious behavior or dead wild birds.

In addition, the FLI recommends paying attention to current information and answers to frequently asked questions about avian influenza that are available online. The importance of biosecurity measures is underlined again, particularly in view of a recent case on a mink farm in Spain, where the H5N1 virus may have been introduced via wild birds. The possibility that the virus can be passed on through close contacts in intensively kept livestock such as minks or pigs gives every reason to be vigilant Friedrich Loeffler Institute explained.

It remains important for poultry farmers in the Miltenberg district to keep an overview in order to prevent anything worse from happening. Increased attention to your own flock and the wild birds in the area is now required. Regular information and reports to the responsible veterinary authorities are necessary to successfully contain avian influenza.