EUROPE’S poultry and animal-health sectors are entering the summer with easing highly pathogenic avian influenza pressure, but EU food-safety and public-health bodies are warning operators not to relax biosecurity or surveillance after a spring season marked by substantial wild-bird activity and concentrated poultry losses.

In a scientific report approved on 24 June, EFSA, ECDC and the EU Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza reviewed detections from 28 February to 4 June 2026. The agencies logged 949 HPAI A(H5) detections in Europe across 30 countries, including 154 in poultry, 32 in captive birds and 763 in wild birds. Wild-bird detections had fallen to a low level by the end of the period, and seasonal risk is expected to decline further, although sporadic outbreaks remain possible.

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The most significant burden was in Poland. Europe recorded 154 HPAI A(H5N1) poultry outbreaks in 12 countries; Poland accounted for 102 cases, or 66% of the total, and 88% of poultry culled in affected establishments. More than six million birds died or were culled, with chickens the largest affected category, ahead of turkeys and domestic ducks.

The report also points to a surveillance challenge beyond H5N1. Low-pathogenic A(H9N2) clade G5.5 was reported in European poultry for the first time, affecting seven broiler establishments in one settlement in Hungary. EFSA said co-infection with infectious bronchitis virus led to clinical signs and increased mortality, and noted that the virus carried a mutation associated with preferential binding to human-like receptors.

Mammals

Mammalian spillover remains a concern for integrated livestock, pet-food and veterinary businesses. In Europe, HPAI detections in wild carnivores stayed low, with red foxes most frequently affected, but A(H5N5) was detected in a dead polar bear and walrus on Svalbard. Dutch follow-up work also serologically confirmed H5N1 spillover to one dairy farm, although a retrospective national survey indicated an isolated event.

Public-health risk assessments remain stable. ECDC said risk from European clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses is low for the general EU/EEA public and low-to-moderate for people occupationally or otherwise exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments. Globally, 19 human avian influenza infections were publicly reported in the period, including six A(H5N1) cases; Italy also reported an imported A(H9N2) case, the first such human case in the EU/EEA.