Bird flu is affecting wild birds in Europe at unprecedented levels this season, according to an interim report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and unpublished research from Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) and Erasmus MC.

Since the start of the season in september, EFSA has reported over 1,400 infections among dead wild birds – more than ever before, and double the number recorded in the same period of 2022, a year that saw 76 Dutch poultry farms cleared due to the virus.

Research from Erasmus MC, which tests live birds for the virus, corroborates these findings. Virologist Ron Fouchier reports that 25% of examined ducks in the Netherlands carry the highly contagious H5N1 variant, the highest percentage of infected wild birds ever recorded. These are often apparently healthy, yet infected, ducks.

Experts warn that the high infection rate increases the risk of a new flu variant capable of infecting humans and threatens the long-term sustainability of the unvaccinated poultry sector in the Netherlands. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) reported new infections on Wednesday morning.

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Germany has been the hardest hit of all European countries so far, according to EFSA figures, with 909 infection[s].

Bird Flu Returns to the Netherlands, triggering Culling and Containment Measures

The Netherlands is once again grappling with an outbreak of bird flu, leading to the planned culling of chickens at a broiler farm on Wednesday. This resurgence, following new cases detected last month, has prompted the implementation of a nationwide containment obligation aimed at curbing the spread of the highly contagious virus.

The current outbreak is raising concerns among poultry farmers and authorities alike, as it threatens the livelihoods of those in the industry and poses a risk to public health. The national containment obligation mandates strict biosecurity measures for all poultry farms, including limitations on transport and gatherings of birds.

This isn’t the first time the Netherlands has faced a notable bird flu outbreak. Previous waves have resulted in the culling of millions of birds, causing significant economic losses for farmers. Authorities are hoping that the swift implementation of containment measures will help to limit the scale of the current outbreak and prevent further disruption to the poultry sector.

The situation is being closely monitored, and further measures might potentially be implemented depending on the evolution of the outbreak. Poultry farmers are urged to remain vigilant and adhere to all biosecurity protocols to protect their flocks and prevent the further spread of the virus.

Bird Flu: Vaccination as a Solution for Poultry Farms

The current approach to managing bird flu outbreaks in Europe, primarily focused on culling infected poultry, is facing increasing scrutiny. Experts argue that mass vaccination of poultry is the most viable long-term solution, despite existing resistance from some sectors.

Preventative measures on farms, such as changing shoes and clothes, and diligent hand washing, are currently standard practice. However, these measures alone are insufficient to prevent widespread infection.

“If we really want to prevent infections among poultry in the future, there is no other option than to vaccinate the animals en masse,” states Stegeman. Experiments are underway in the Netherlands to assess the efficacy of poultry vaccination,while France has already begun vaccinating ducks to protect its foie gras industry. “Vaccination is, of course, impossible with wild birds, but you can ensure that the spread in poultry farms stops.”

Kees de Jong, chairman of the poultry farming department of LTO Netherlands, emphasizes the need to move away from culling. “We have to get rid of this culling in the long term. Those days are behind us. The virus is in the wild birds and it will not go away.”

While acknowledging vaccination as the solution, De Jong notes resistance from a small segment of the population and from trade partners who are hesitant to accept products from vaccinated animals. However, the increasing prevalence of bird flu is shifting perspectives. “everything becomes fluid under pressure. In the US, such as, they were quite critical of vaccinations, but now they want to look over our shoulders to see how we are doing with the vaccine.”

Publication Date: 2025/11/27 09:15:54