Bird flu spreads rapidly in EU, raising alarm over potential human transmission
The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is accelerating across the European Union this season, outpacing the milder outbreaks of 2023. The resurgence of this deadly virus has prompted fears of a repeat of past crises that decimated poultry populations and raised concerns over potential transmission to humans.
Since the start of the migratory season on August 1, EU countries have reported 62 outbreaks of bird flu on poultry farms, primarily concentrated in the eastern regions of the bloc, according to data from the World Organisation for Animal Health. This figure marks a stark increase from just seven outbreaks reported by the same time last year, though it remains below the 112 outbreaks documented by late October 2022.
Yann Nedelec, director of the French interprofessional poultry group Anvol, emphasized the heightened concerns: “The situation at EU level is surely more worrying than it was at the same stage last year.”
Bird flu, which is often spread through the feces of infected wild birds and the transport of contaminated materials, typically spikes in autumn and subsides in spring. Hungary has recorded the most significant number of outbreaks, with the situation worsening in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Poland, the EU’s largest poultry producer, has seen the culling of approximately 1.8 million birds, including nearly 1.4 million from a single farm in Sroda Wielkopolska.
France, which faced severe losses during the 2022-2023 season, has bolstered biosecurity measures around poultry farms in response to rising cases in neighboring countries. Nedelec noted the hope that vaccinations implemented in France would mitigate the risk of another crisis.
While bird flu has not been detected in humans or cattle within the EU, concerns are mounting in the U.S., where the virus has spread to nearly 400 dairy herds across 14 states and has been detected in 36 individuals since April. Four of these cases involved workers at a commercial egg farm afflicted by the virus. The spread to other mammal species raises fears that the virus could mutate into a form that is easily transmissible between humans, potentially igniting a pandemic.
As the migratory season continues, health authorities and poultry producers in the EU remain vigilant, hoping to contain the outbreak and prevent further escalation.
