Severe 2025 Avian Influenza Outbreak Kills Hundreds of Thousands of Birds Across Germany
Germany faces a major H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in 2025, causing mass culling of poultry and widespread deaths among wild birds, mainly in northeastern regions.
- • Over 400,000 birds culled in Germany due to H5N1 virus outbreak.
- • Outbreak concentrated in northeastern Germany, with large poultry farm losses in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- • Approximately 2,000 wild cranes have died nationally, indicating significant spread among wild birds.
- • FLI urges precautions when handling birds and recommends avoiding crane resting areas to control spread.
Key details
Germany is grappling with a severe outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in 2025, which has led to the culling of over 400,000 birds including ducks, geese, hens, and chickens, according to the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI). The outbreak is particularly intense in northeastern Germany, affecting poultry farms in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Niedersachsen, Thüringen, and North Rhine-Westphalia. A hen farm in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern alone lost 35,000 birds, marking one of the largest single losses.
Wild bird populations have also suffered greatly, with approximately 2,000 cranes dying nationwide and half of these losses occurring in Brandenburg. FLI president Christa Kühn highlighted the unusual spread of the virus among wild birds, potentially linked to migration timing and weather conditions. Local officials, such as Mathias Perschall, mayor of Fehrbellin, described the situation as dramatic and called for more support to safely manage the numerous dead animals. The FLI has advised avoiding visits to popular crane resting sites to prevent further virus transmission and emphasized that while the risk of human infection remains low, individuals handling infected birds must observe strict precautions. Properly cooked poultry products continue to be safe for consumption.
There is no direct connection between this avian flu outbreak and a concurrent outbreak of EHEC in Germany, where two deaths and 183 cases have been reported by the Robert Koch-Institut since late August 2025. While EHEC investigation is ongoing, it remains distinct from the avian influenza crisis.
As of October 20, 2025, at least 15 outbreaks of H5N1 have been confirmed, with ongoing efforts to contain the virus. The unprecedented bird mortality and culling reflect a critical challenge for animal health and agricultural sectors in the affected regions.