Regulatory officials in the state of Lower Saxony have reported an outbreak of HPAI with the isolate characterized as an H7 strain in an egg producing flock of 90,000 hens.  The outbreak in Bad Bentheim was detected on June 29^th and confirmed on July 2^nd.  The six-mile restricted zone around the index farm extends across the adjacent border into Holland with veterinary services of both nations conducting surveillance.  There has not been an outbreak of H7 avian influenza in Germany since 2003 and accordingly, investigations will evaluate the possible introduction of the virus by free-living birds.