In February this year, six outbreaks of HPAIV H5 in domestic poultry, one outbreak in captive birds at Cologne Zoo and an increase in cases in wild birds were detected in Germany. Since October 2023, a significant number of outbreaks in poultry with losses of six million birds have been reported in Europe. Since then, the range of wild bird species affected has again increasingly included water bird populations, particularly on the North Sea and Baltic coasts. The risk of HPAI H5 virus entry and spread in wild wild bird populations within Germany therefore remains high. The risk of introduction into German domestic poultry flocks and bird populations in zoological institutions through direct and indirect contact with wild birds in Germany and Europe is also still classified as high.
