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Alarm in the Mansfeld-Südharz district: 40,000 chickens killed because of bird flu!
In the Mansfeld-Südharz district, 40,000 laying hens were killed due to suspected bird flu. Containment measures are underway.
Alarm in the Mansfeld-Südharz district: 40,000 chickens killed because of bird flu!
Bird flu is spreading at an alarming rate in Germany. Today, October 30, 2025, a suspicion of a recurrence of the highly contagious infectious disease was reported in the Mansfeld-Südharz district. In a laying hen farm with around 40,000 animals, the veterinary office ordered the entire population to be killed. A contracted specialist company is carrying out the necessary culling, although the results of the test for bird flu are still pending. However, an exclusion zone could soon be set up if suspicions are confirmed the time reported.
A few days ago, dead birds were discovered in the region at the reservoir in Kelbra, which died from the notorious H5N1 virus. This is a cause for concern because bird flu is a serious threat not only to wild birds, but especially to poultry. Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer has already called for increased protective measures because the disease is also having devastating effects in other federal states, such as Baden-Württemberg.
Impact on agriculture
In Baden-Württemberg, 15,000 animals from a poultry farm have already been killed, and the number of cranes that have died amounts to several thousand. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is trying to increase the upper limit for compensation payments to up to 110 euros in order to help the affected farmers. This fall, more than 200,000 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys have had to be killed due to outbreaks.
The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has raised the risk of further outbreaks to “high”. In addition to Thuringia, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg are particularly affected. In order to stop the spread of the virus, poultry farmers are asked to scrupulously adhere to hygiene rules and avoid contact with wild birds.
Health risks for people
There is currently no acute risk of serious illness to humanity from the virus. However, it is recommended to avoid contact with dead birds and report any finds to the relevant authorities. This particularly affects private individuals who are out and about in nature. There are also specific vaccines for poultry used in France, while human vaccines against bird flu are not yet approved in the EU.
In view of current developments, it is important to remain vigilant and informed. Avian influenza shows how vulnerable agriculture and animal husbandry are in Germany, and public awareness of this should be increased in order to prevent further damage.