Bird flu detected on small farm in eastern Germany, ministry says

Bird ​flu has ​been detected ‌in a small ​domestic poultry holding in Brandenburg, the German state ‌surrounding Berlin, for the first time this autumn, the local agricultural ministry said ‌on Tuesday. The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian ‌influenza virus was confirmed in a holding of about 160 ducks, geese and chickens ⁠in the ​Havelland district, ⁠prompting authorities to order the humane culling of ⁠the birds and the establishment of ​protection and surveillance zones around the site.

Germany's ⁠Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the national reference laboratory, said ⁠the ​risk of the virus spreading among wild birds was high as ⁠autumn migration continues. Bird flu was detected in ⁠a ⁠wild goose in Brandenburg's Oder-Spree district earlier this month.

(Writing by ‌Miranda ‌Murray, editing by ​Deepa Babington)