The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) detected the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H5N1 (also known as avian influenza) in another greylag goose found dead in the water in Blattsee near Kirchheim/Neckar yesterday evening. This is the second case of avian influenza detected in the district of Ludwigsburg, after the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H5N1 was already detected in a gray goose found in the water in Ludwigsburg's Neckar biotope Zugwiesen on November 19, 2025.
A swan found dead on the left bank of the Neckar in Ludwigsburg-Hoheneck on November 23, 2025 is also suspected of being infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
In consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ludwigsburg Veterinary Office carried out a risk assessment for the Ludwigsburg district and came to the conclusion that the two confirmed cases and the suspected case of avian influenza in domestic wild birds have increased the risk of infection for domestic poultry in the Neckar area. It was therefore decided to set up a containment zone along the Neckar as a precautionary measure. Depending on the local conditions, such as the location of the watercourse and the business situation, the poultry will be kept in a stabling zone approximately 500 m on either side of the watercourse. A general ruling on this is being prepared and will be published on December 1, 2025. This will take effect from December 2, 2025.
The current avian influenza season is very dynamic throughout Germany and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute estimates the overall risk of avian influenza spreading to be high. All poultry farmers are called upon to continue to strictly adhere to the biosecurity measures that have long been in place in Baden-Württemberg to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into the domestic poultry population.
Situation in Germany and Baden-Württemberg
In Germany, there has been a sharp increase in avian influenza outbreaks in domestic poultry and wild birds in recent weeks. In particular, several eastern German federal states are currently reporting increased mortality among cranes. Other wild waterfowl species, such as ducks and geese, may show fewer symptoms of avian influenza.
symptoms of an avian flu infection, as they may have already developed partial immunity.
In Baden-Württemberg, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H5N1 was detected in a large poultry farm in Öllingen in the Alb-Donau district on 23.10.2025.
An up-to-date overview of outbreaks of avian influenza / avian influenza in wild birds and kept birds can be found at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in the TSIS - Animal Disease Information System: https: //tsis.fli.de/cadenza/
Further information
Current information on the situation in Baden-Württemberg: https: //mlr.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/unsere-themen/tierschutz-tiergesundheit/tiergesundheit/tierkrankheiten-tierseuchen-zoonosen/vogelgrippe/aktuelles
