Precautionary warning

Detection of Bornavirus in animals in Bavaria

So far this year, a total of six cases have been recorded in hedgehogs throughout Germany.(Bild: Moorland Roamer - stock.adobe.com)

Following several detections of Bornavirus in animals in Bavaria, a regional precautionary warning has been issued. There is a risk from the pathogen, albeit a very low one.

In the summer, the veterinary office in the district was notified of horses suspected of being infected with Bornavirus as well as evidence in three hedgehogs. According to Dennis Rubbenstroth from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, a total of six cases have been recorded in hedgehogs across Germany so far this year, all of them in Bavaria.

In extremely rare cases, humans can become infected with the Borna virus (BoDV-1 - Borna Disease Virus 1), which usually results in fatal encephalitis. So far, the field shrew (Crocidura leucodon) is the only known carrier of the virus to humans.

Before this year's cases, only one other case had been recorded in hedgehogs in Germany - also in Bavaria in 2022. This was also the first case worldwide, which is hardly surprising, as BoDV-1 only occurs in parts of Germany and in individual regions of Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.