Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that affects wild and farmed birds, causing serious epidemics and, in the most aggressive cases – such as those caused by the H5N1 strain – can also have serious repercussions on farms and the rural economy.
In Germany, the presence of the virus is constantly monitored by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), the federal body for animal health. According to the latest risk assessment (Risikoeinschätzung) published on 20 October 2025, 15 outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 were recorded between 1 September and 20 October in seven Länder, including Brandenburg, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The FLI confirmed that the circulation of the virus among wild birds is increasing and that the situation continues to change rapidly and the risk of contagion for poultry farms remains high.
The Brandenburg outbreak: the first dead cranes
It all started in mid-October 2025, when around 200 crane carcasses were found in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, between Linum and Neuruppin. The specimens belonging to the species Grus grustested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5).
The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) confirmed the presence of the virus in the samples analyzed on October 20. The local veterinary authorities, together with the NABU Brandenburg centers and volunteers, immediately began collecting and disposing of the carcasses to contain the spread of the infection.
The outbreak exploded in one of the most sensitive places in Europe for migratory avifauna. The Linum Rhinluch area is in fact one of the largest resting points for cranes on the continent, with tens of thousands of specimens gathering here every autumn to rest and feed before continuing south.
The high seasonal concentration of birds, combined with the presence of wild geese and ducks, has created ideal conditions for the rapid transmission of the virus, which spreads easily through close contact and contaminated surfaces.
Within a few days, the situation drastically worsened. According to Rbb24, the infection has spread to five districts of Brandenburg and the city of Brandenburg an der Havel. The authorities have already confirmed over 1,000 dead cranes, while the district governor of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Ralf Reinhardt (SPD), warned that the toll could reach over 10,000 dead wild birds in the north-west of the Land alone in the coming weeks.
The death of hundreds, probably thousands of cranes, represents a serious blow to a species that has shown signs of recovery in recent years. According to NABU Brandenburg, the epidemic could have significant repercussions on local ecological balances, especially if the virus continues to circulate during the autumn migration.
The problem is that avian influenza, especially the H5N1 strain, is highly contagious and often fatal to birds and also affects domestic and intensive livestock farming if adequate biosecurity measures are not taken.
Containment measures for farms
To reduce the risk of transmission of the virus from wild birds to poultry, several districts have introduced mandatory keeping of chickens, ducks and geese indoors. In parallel, some intensive farms in the region had to cull thousands of geese and ducks after they were confirmed positive for the virus.
Brandenburg Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt (SPD) said that the epidemic is still expanding and that the regional government is considering declaring a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, dozens of volunteers and emergency personnel are working in the field to collect and destroy the carcasses, a delicate but essential operation to prevent the virus from spreading further.
