Bird flu is spreading in Lower Saxony: 150,000 animals affected!

Bird flu is spreading in Lower Saxony: 150,000 animals affected!

Bird flu is increasingly spreading in Lower Saxony and is already having a devastating impact on the local poultry industry. On Friday, November 1, 2025, four new outbreaks were reported in various companies, including two in the Vechta district. A chicken farm in Lutten with 130,000 laying hens and a turkey fattening farm in the Telbrake district with more than 13,000 animals are affected. In total, around 150,000 animals have been culled in Lower Saxony since the outbreak of the disease in order to prevent it from spreading further.

Other affected areas are the Emsland district, where a turkey fattening farm in Lengerich has around 18,000 turkey cocks, and a fattening farm in Fredenbeck in the Stade district with around 10,000 animals. In view of this worrying situation, the Vechta district is preparing to kill the affected stocks, while the Agriculture Minister of Lower Saxony is calling for calm and prudence in order to keep the situation under control. What is particularly alarming is that the Cloppenburg district has the highest number of outbreaks with a total of seven cases, followed by the Diepholz and Heidekreis districts.

Virus transmission and protective measures

The virus can be spread through contaminated footwear or equipment. Experts even suspect that it may be transmitted via aerosols in poultry-rich regions. Despite the serious dangers the virus poses to livestock, it is considered relatively harmless to humans. However, these can be carriers of the virus and most have so far shown only mild symptoms if they become infected. In order to prevent the spread, stable stables were imposed in several districts, which makes drastic measures necessary, especially in regions with a high animal density.

Visitors and animal lovers do not have to worry particularly at the moment as there are no restrictions for them. However, zoos and similar facilities are preparing for possible measures. Agricultural experts warn that price increases for duck and goose meat cannot be ruled out and that farmers can soon expect higher compensation payments to compensate for the economic losses.

Historical reviews and future perspectives

Bird flu was detected for the first time in the Grafschaft Bentheim district in June 2024. At that time, 14 poultry farms with over 230,000 animals were examined, but all test results were negative. In the USA, the H5N1 virus is showing alarming adaptations that also affect mammals, while in Germany the situation is so far under control thanks to strict surveillance measures. Nevertheless, the state of Saxony remains particularly vulnerable to future outbreaks, requiring constant vigilance.

Overall, the current situation made it clear that while bird flu poses a serious threat to animal husbandry, the risk to humans is considered to be low. However, local farmers can only hope that the measures will soon have an effect and that the disease can be contained in order to keep the economic damage as low as possible.

For further information on the current situation and developments in Lower Saxony, visit the articles from NDR and District newspaper.