Anne Günther, Josefine Wassermann, Jonas Heck, Marin Bussi, Andrea Aebischer, Christoph Staubach, Hannes Bergmann, Fabian H. Leendertz, Martin Beer, Gereon Schares, Kerstin Wernike
We tested wild ruminants, boar, and carnivores in northeast Germany for highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5 antibodies. Wild ruminants were seronegative, but 3.5% of boar and 12.5%-21.9% of carnivores were seropositive, indicating frequent spillover. Because such events might accelerate mammalian (and ultimately human) adaptation, sustained monitoring remains essential.