PoultryWorld: Avian influenza hits most countries in Europe, again

29 okt 2025

A large number of countries in Europe have reported new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza this season.

The UK appears to be the hardest hit while Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Poland and Denmark also confirmed outbreaks at commercial poultry farms.

Bird flu cases in the UK

In the UK, a wave of unseasonal new outbreaks in the summer months lead to a total of 81 cases recorded between October 2024 and September this year. Since then, another 9 new cases in commercial poultry units have been confirmed. Among the affected premises are a flock of 32,000 free-range laying hens near Cynwyd, a second outbreak involving 32,000 birds near Penrith, and a third in 68,000 free-range hens near Bedale.

So far, UK authorities have not yet announced a new compulsory housing order, to the irritation of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association. “The recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Great Britain has significantly increased concern across the UK poultry sector,” said BFREPA’s head of strategy, Gary Ford.

He added: “In light of the escalating situation and the growing risk of disease transmission, we are calling for an urgent housing order to be implemented across the western region of Great Britain. While housing measures alone cannot eliminate the risk, they are a critical step in reducing exposure and limiting the spread of this aggressive disease.”

Avian influenza in Germany

In Germany, between 1 September 1 and 20 October 2025, 15 HPAIV H5N1 outbreaks in poultry were detected in 7 federal states, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) said, calling the AI-situation ´very dynamic´. The largest farm affected was a broiler flock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with over 35,000 animals. FLI fears that current outbreaks resemble the severe wave recorded in 2021, which was one of the worst years for avian influenza in Germany when over 2 million poultry had to be destroyed due to bird flu outbreaks.

The situation in France

Despite 2 successive massive annual vaccination campaigns, avian influenza returned to France, too. The first new case was discovered on 10 October near Calais, followed by another 4 infected premises around the western coastal areas. The department of agriculture rapidly raised the risk level from negligible to modest. The rules for biosecurity at poultry farms also have been strengthened.

Avian influenza in reported in the Netherlands and Belgium

In the Benelux, both the Netherlands and Belgium have re-introduced housing orders after a number of new cases. In the Netherlands, so far 1 chicken farm has been infected while in Belgium 2 cases have been reported. Farmers Union Boerenbond says it had asked for a housing order “and is satisfied with the swift response of the minister”.

Almost 100 cases of bird flu in Poland

Poland has recorded 94 cases since September last year, according to figures from the European Commission. The country regained its avian influenza-free status only in May this year but had to report new cases in the north of the country in September.

Cases in Denmark

Denmark is affected too, with 3 reported cases including one in a poultry farm in Frederica holding 150,000 hens, the Danish Veterinary and Food Adminstration reported.