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Europe is struggling with this Unprecedented and early surge in bird flu, Prompted by a widespread outbreak in wild birds, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced on Thursday.
This highly pathogenic avian influenza has already required the culling of millions of farm birds, disrupting food supplies and raising prices, However human infection is rare.
While outbreaks typically peak in autumn in conjunction with migratory patterns, this season has seen an earlier onset, causing significant mortality in wild bird populations.
Common cranes, as well as numerous waterfowl on routes spanning Germany, France and Spain, have been particularly affected.
Between September 6 and November 28, EFSA reported 2,896 detections of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses – primarily H5N1 – in 29 European countries.
Of these, 442 cases were identified in poultry, of which 2,454 cases were found in wild birds.
“We are currently seeing an unprecedented sharp increase in the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in mostly wild birds,” EFSA scientific officer Lisa Kohnle told Reuters.
The number of poultry outbreaks was similar to previous years, but five times higher than in 2023, and almost double than in 2021. Türkiye was most affected.
“What’s interesting for poultry is that in previous years the spread of those epidemics was much greater from farm-to-farm,” Kohnle said. “This year it seems we have been introduced to more wild birds”.
As for humans, bird flu infected 19 people in four countries (Cambodia, China, Mexico and the US). EFSA said, one death in Cambodia and one in AmericaAll cases involved exposure to poultry or poultry environments,
Bird flu outbreaks in mammals were smaller than in 2022 and 2023, but concerns remain because of a possible mutation that would make it contagious between humans.
Kohnle said testing is likely to continue to increase, although high wild bird mortality could lead to tightening of farm controls and help slow the spread of the virus.