Overview
- Germany’s Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut confirmed H5N1 in crane samples, with infections in dead wild birds now reported from every state except Bremen.
- Authorities and researchers estimate more than 2,000 cranes have died so far at key stopover sites such as Linum in Brandenburg and the Kelbra reservoir.
- Well over 200,000 commercial birds have been culled this autumn, including about 15,000 in Alb-Donau, with a Brandenburg farm reporting plans to kill roughly 35,000 ducks.
- Federal and state agriculture ministers met to coordinate measures as protection and monitoring zones, stall orders and stricter hygiene rules roll out across affected regions.
- Berlin reported two dead cranes positive in the state lab pending FLI confirmation, while zoos and rescue centers restrict operations and experts stress low risk to the general public but higher risk for those handling birds.