FLI raises Germany's avian influenza risk level for wild birds and poultry transmission
Published · Updated
What happened
The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut updated its risk assessment on 2026-11-07 and set the risk of avian influenza introduction and spread among wild birds in Germany to high. It also set the risk of transmission from wild birds to domestic poultry through contact to high, citing more detections in wild birds and poultry since October.
Why it matters
A federal risk reclassification can trigger near-term operational changes by Länder veterinary authorities and poultry operators, including housing orders, movement controls, testing, and culling protocols. That affects animal health management, poultry production, and surveillance planning during the seasonal migration period.
On 2026-11-07, the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut raised its avian influenza risk assessment for Germany, classifying both the introduction and spread among wild birds and the transmission risk to domestic poultry via contact with wild birds as high. The institute linked the reassessment to an increase in cases in wild birds and poultry since October. The change does not itself impose measures, but it raises the likelihood of tighter farm biosecurity steps and additional veterinary controls at state level.
Watch for
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut publication of a follow-on epidemiological update on HPAI case counts in Germany by 2026-11-11 Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection order on compulsory housing or added poultry biosecurity rules by 2026-11-11 North Rhine-Westphalia state veterinary authority notice of newly confirmed HPAI outbreaks in commercial poultry holdings by 2026-11-11 No Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture nationwide coordination notice on avian influenza measures by 2026-11-11
Sources
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