District issues general order requiring poultry to be kept indoors
GROSS-GERAU DISTRICT. The suspicion of avian influenza in the Groß-Gerau district has been confirmed: Following a positive laboratory result from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the Groß-Gerau District Veterinary Office on October 24, 2025. two mute swans and a great egret have been affected and found dead in the district.
Compulsory housing for poultry throughout the district
Because the findings are spread across several locations in the district—including Hessenaue , the Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue , and Büttelborn —the district has mandatory indoor housing for poultry and imposed further restrictions. "We must now prevent the virus from entering poultry farming at all costs," emphasized First District Councilor Adil Oyan .
The general order is initially valid for six months . All private and commercial livestock keepers must keep their poultry in closed housing or under protected structures.
District was prepared – virus spreads nationwide
According to official veterinarian Dr. Katrin Stein, the district had already taken precautions in advance, as the virus was considered likely to be introduced due to bird migration. "Avian influenza is currently spreading very rapidly in Germany. The Groß-Gerau district is taking precautions to contain the highly contagious disease," said Oyan.
The Friedrich Loeffler Institute is currently conducting further investigations to determine the exact virus strain. In addition to the already confirmed cases, five dead swans from the Hessenaue examined.
Dr. Stein calls on all poultry farmers to review their biosecurity measures and report dead wild birds of the relevant species to the veterinary office. "We are monitoring the situation and are prepared," the official veterinarian said.
More information
The complete general decree is available at
👉 www.kreisgg.de/amtliche-bekanntmachungen .
Current information on the situation, information sheets and checklists for pet owners can be found at
👉 www.kreisgg.de/vogelgrippe
(Gross-Gerau-Red/PSGG)
