Bird flu in Thuringia: Falling cases, but the danger remains!

Bird flu in Thuringia: Falling cases, but the danger remains!

In recent weeks, bird flu (H5N1) has severely affected wildlife in Germany. Wild birds such as cranes, which die in large numbers, are particularly at risk. But the situation is slowly beginning to ease, as several reports show. Thuringia is seeing a decline in cases, but the threat of the virus remains. Numerous poultry farms were particularly hard hit, where hundreds of thousands of animals had to be killed to stop the spread. This reports in South Thuringia.

Since October 2025, the virus has caused worrying conditions in large parts of Germany, including Brandenburg, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. There were particularly many infections at the Kelbra reservoir, where numerous cranes and other wild birds died. In Thuringia, 1,358 animals have been culled on farms since the outbreak, while around 1.5 million animals nationwide have lost their lives due to bird flu. However, the decline in positive tests is a bright spot: According to the Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection, there have only been 65 positive test results since October, including 37 in November.

Decrease in infections and necessary protective measures

The weekly case numbers have now been falling since mid-November, and the Nordhausen district has already lifted its surveillance zone. Protection and surveillance zones are no longer necessary in the Greiz district either. According to Steffen Goldberg, the state coordinator for crane protection, no sick animals have been reported at the Straussfurt retention basin for two weeks. This positive development gives rise to hope that the situation will continue to stabilize.

However, the obligation to keep stables remains in place in many regions, especially around bodies of water frequented by wild birds. However, experts warn that bird flu cases can now occur all year round and are no longer just seasonal. The current spreads are complex and could be caused by a variety of factors, such as contact between domestic and wild birds.

Surveillance and international spread of the virus

NABU is therefore calling for comprehensive monitoring and more protective measures for wild animal populations. It is believed that cranes that stand close together become infected at resting places while they are on their migration. The survival of the virus in the water also promotes infection among these birds. Another problem is the large number of carcasses, which are often found in areas that are difficult to access: These must be removed quickly to prevent further spread.

Other countries such as Hungary and Israel have already recorded massive losses of cranes due to bird flu. There are also alarm signals around the world: bird flu is spreading from the Galapagos Islands to Scandinavia and is threatening numerous bird species. The World Health Organization considers the risk to humans to be low, but that does not change the threat the virus poses to wildlife.

The situation remains tense, as hygiene gaps in large fattening farms are often the cause of local outbreaks. The NABU therefore recommends not only temporary stable requirements, but also long-term containment strategies and training for agricultural staff. You can see that there is still a lot to do to get this dangerous pathogen under control without letting our wild birds down.
At the moment, for many, all that remains is to hold out and wait for further positive developments.