POULTRY producers have been urged to strengthen biosecurity ahead of an expected autumn increase in avian influenza, despite a sharp fall in European outbreaks over the summer.
Scientists expect the arrival of migratory birds, alongside young birds without previous immunity, to increase virus circulation in the coming months.
See also: Bird flu outlook uncertain as experts warn against biosecurity lapses
Just two outbreaks in poultry were reported across Europe between 5 June and 28 August 2026, one each in Germany and Sweden. That compares with 17 during the same period last year and 155 in the preceding reporting period.
The joint overview from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and EU Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza recorded 110 H5N1 detections across 12 European countries.
Seven were in domestic birds and 103 in wild birds, with both remaining at a seasonal low throughout the summer.
Virus persists in western Europe
Germany and the Netherlands accounted for most wild-bird detections, with 46 and 31 respectively. Three were recorded in the UK, three in Denmark and two in Belgium.
The total number of wild-bird detections across Europe was 45% below the same period in 2025.
There was also a marked change in the wild birds affected. Waterfowl accounted for 82.5% of detections, compared with 12% during the same period last year, when colony-breeding seabirds predominated.
Greylag geese, mute swans and Canada geese were among the main species identified this summer.
The German poultry outbreak involved a commercial flock of 6,554 parent-stock turkeys in the north-east of the country. Indirect contact with wild birds was considered the most likely source.
Ten dead birds were identified through sampling, but no clinical signs were reported.
In Sweden, the affected holding kept 143 laying hens and two ducks with outdoor access. Direct contact with wild birds was the suspected source, and 62 birds died.
French vaccination shows benefits
Despite the quieter summer, Europe recorded its highest number of wild-bird detections for an epidemiological year to date, with 7,000 between 1 October 2025 and 28 August 2026.
However, outbreaks in domestic birds were lower than during the heavily affected 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
The report highlighted a substantial reduction in outbreaks involving domestic ducks, particularly in France and Hungary.
In France, mandatory preventive vaccination of domestic ducks, alongside improved biosecurity, appeared to have reduced outbreaks arising from both wild-bird introductions and farm-to-farm transmission.
The authors said enhanced biosecurity and preventive controls likely contributed to the reduction despite high infection levels in wild birds.
Prepare for autumn
With environmental contamination expected to increase in the coming months, the report called for farm biosecurity to be strengthened and maintained throughout production and culling operations.
“This also applies to vaccinated poultry and is particularly important for establishments under the same ownership, part of an integrated production chain, or located in densely populated poultry areas,” it said.
Surveillance should also be maintained at a level that allows infected holdings to be detected early.
The report highlighted EFSA’s Bird Flu Radar as a tool for monitoring the probability of virus introduction into wild-bird populations as autumn begins.
