Hesse orders mass cull of 19,000 chickens over avian flu fears

A farm in Hungen becomes ground zero for Hesse’s latest avian flu scare. With zones locked down, will this outbreak derail months of eased restrictions?

, and ASMedia

2026 January 20 . 9:26 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of chickens in a field next to a road, surrounded by grass, mesh fencing,... — The image shows a group of chickens in a field next to a road, surrounded by grass, mesh fencing, sheds, trees, and a hill in the background with a sky full of clouds.

Avian Flu: Many Hessian Districts Lift Poultry Ban - Hesse orders mass cull of 19,000 chickens over avian flu fears

Authorities in Hesse have ordered the culling of around 19,000 broiler chickens at a farm in Hungen. The move follows suspicions of a new avian influenza outbreak after tests detected the H5 pathogen. The veterinary office in Gießen first raised concerns about the poultry farm in the Utphe district. As a precaution, they ordered the immediate culling of all chickens on the premises. A three-kilometre protection zone and a ten-kilometre surveillance zone have since been set up around the affected site. These measures restrict poultry movement and reintroduce mandatory indoor confinement for some areas in the Wetterau district. The latest outbreak comes after several Hessian districts had already relaxed earlier restrictions. Waldeck-Frankenberg, Offenbach, and Wiesbaden lifted indoor confinement orders in recent weeks. Other regions, including Main-Taunus, Hochtaunus, Vogelsberg, and Limburg-Weilburg, had rescinded similar measures as early as December. Meanwhile, districts such as Schwalm-Eder, Bergstraße, and Marburg-Biedenkopf followed in early January. The Werra-Meißner district removed its restrictions even sooner, on January 12. The culling of 19,000 chickens aims to contain the suspected avian flu outbreak in Hungen. Restrictions on poultry movement and indoor confinement remain in place within the newly established zones. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.