PandemicPreparedness

Updated: June 2025

• Mpox
• Bird Flu
• COVID-19
• MERS-CoV
• Pandemic Preparedness

MPOX

The country reported the first case of mpox in May 2022. Since then, there has been local transmission.

Vaccination is recommended for several groups of people.

Useful websites: Find the latest information from the Robert Koch Institute and an FAQ from the Ministry of Health.

Bird Flu

H5N1 was first detected in wild birds and poultry in February 2006.
H5N2 was detected in wild birds in February 2022.
H5N3 was first reported in wild birds in December 2020.
H5N4 was reported for the first time in a wild bird in January 2021.
H5N5 was detected in domestic and wild birds in January 2017.
H5N6 was reported in backyard poultry and wild birds in 2018.
H7N5 was first reported in domestic birds in June 2024.
H7N7 was detected in domestic birds in July 2015.
H5N8 was detected in domestic birds in November 2014.

Bird flu in humans

No human cases of bird flu have been reported in Germany.

COVID-19

The first imported cases of COVID-19 were reported on 28 January 2020.

See the Federal Ministry of Health website and the WHO COVID-19 dashboard for the latest updates. The country's COVID-19 hotline is 116-117.

COVID-19 Vaccination: Began on 27 December 2020.

Vaccine eligibility: Vaccination is open to those over 6 months of age. Further information can be found on the Ministry of Health website.

Booster: Boosters are being offered to those over 60 years of age and those within at-risk groups.

Certification: Proof of vaccination is available electronically and on paper. In January 2024, the CovPass App expired, however past certificates remain available digitally.

Treatment: Several medications are available in Germany, with therapy advice available via the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) .

MERS-CoV

There have been at least three imported cases of MERS-CoV. In March 2015, a 65-year-old male from United Arab Emirates was transferred from a hospital in Abu Dhabi to Munich by air ambulance. Another two cases were reported in 2012 and 2013 respectively, both were flown to Germany for treatment, one from Qatar and the other from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Pandemic Preparedness

The national pandemic plan is here.