Avian influenza in the Greiz district: urgent warning for owners!

Avian influenza in the Greiz district: urgent warning for owners!

On October 2, 2025, an outbreak of the dreaded avian influenza was confirmed in the Greiz district. This outbreak is caused by the highly pathogenic influenza A virus subtype H5N1. The exact cause of the virus outbreak remains unclear, making the situation all the more serious for poultry farmers and the concerned public. The Thuringian Ministry of Social Affairs has already issued preventative measures and information to protect the population and prevent the virus from spreading further, as abg-net.de reports.

As part of the protective measures, two exclusion zones were set up. TheProtection zoneextends over a radius of 3 km around the affected farm, while theSurveillance zonecovers a radius of 10 km and also affects the neighboring Saale-Orla district. Strict regulations apply within these zones: clinical examinations are required and the movement of poultry and poultry products is prohibited, although exceptions are possible under certain conditions.

Call for vigilance

The health authorities appeal to all poultry farmers and citizens to observe biosecurity measures. Diseases in poultry must be reported promptly as avian influenza can cause severe disease and high mortality rates. As an additional precaution, people who come into contact with infected poultry should monitor for flu-like symptoms and seek medical attention if they occur. General hygiene recommendations, such as washing hands thoroughly after contact with birds, should also be strictly followed, as is this [BfR].

The virus can, although rarely, be transmitted from poultry to people in isolated cases. Data to date show that transmission of the pathogen through food, such as poultry meat or eggs, has not been proven. To be on the safe side, we recommend using well-cooked poultry meat and avoiding raw egg products. When preparing the food, it should be heated to at least 70 °C for two minutes so that health problems can be ruled out.

Animal protection and reporting requirements

In general, animals suffering from avian influenza must be treated in a humane manner. The possibility of a further spread of the disease cannot be ruled out. Affected companies must immediately inform the responsible authorities, in particular the Veterinary and Food Inspection Office. It is also mandatory to report dead wild waterfowl or birds of prey.

The situation surrounding avian influenza is tense, especially given recent developments. In January 2024, several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic poultry were detected in Germany, as reported by FLI. This continuous monitoring is essential to stop the spread of the disease in both domestic and wild birds.