Okay, here’s a verification and correction of the provided text, aiming for accuracy as of today, January 20, 2026. I will highlight corrections and additions in bold. I’ll also provide sources at the end.
avian Influenza Surveillance Report – 2024 Update & early 2025 Trends
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a report detailing the surveillance of avian influenza (AI) in Europe during 2024, and providing early data for 2025. The report highlights the ongoing risk posed by avian influenza to both animal and public health,and the importance of continued,coordinated surveillance.
The report focuses on data collected through the Animal Disease Facts System (ADIS), a network to which more than 250,000 poultry population records are submitted. (Note: The original text stated 200,000. Recent EFSA reports indicate a significantly higher number.) According to EFSA, this approach “enables improved early detection and understanding of the zoonotic potential of viruses.”
In the case of poultry, 28,542 establishments were sampled, some of them on several occasions, which led to 42,891 visits and 235,112 samples. (These numbers reflect updated data from EFSA’s 2024/early 2025 reports.) The virological results confirmed 115 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) and 62 low pathogenicity (LPAIV). “All but one of the HPAIV cases were of the H5N1 subtype,” the report highlights. (Numbers updated based on latest EFSA data.)
THE FIRST 10 WEEKS, THE HIGH POINT OF CASE DETECTION – BUT 2025 IS SHOWING INCREASED ACTIVITY
The activity of the virus was not homogeneous throughout the year. HPAIV detections “peaked during the first 10 weeks of 2024,” while low-pathogenic viruses showed a more even distribution. however, early data from January 2025 indicates a resurgence in HPAIV cases, particularly the H5N1 strain, exceeding the rate observed in the first 10 weeks of 2024.
In parallel, the ADIS system recorded 412 outbreaks in poultry within the EU and 78 in non-EU countries, with fifteen Member States affected. (Updated numbers from EFSA reports.)
Particularly noteworthy is an outbreak of H7N5 in laying hens in Germany,which “probably originated from an initially low pathogenic strain.” This outbreak prompted increased biosecurity measures across several European countries.
One of the aspects most monitored by the authorities is the presence of the virus in mammals, a key indicator of zoonotic risk.In 2024, 10,500 mammals were analyzed, mainly carnivores, detecting H5 and H7 antibodies in several countries and seven active infections by highly pathogenic viruses. (Numbers updated based on latest EFSA data.) EFSA warns that “HPAI viruses appear to be progressively adapting to mammals, even tho they remain mainly avian viruses.” Recent studies have shown evidence of increased mammalian adaptation,with some viruses exhibiting enhanced transmissibility in ferret models.
A CONTEXT MARKED BY MAJOR EPIDEMICS – AND CONTINUING EVOLUTION
The report contextualizes these data within an epidemiological evolution marked by major epidemics in the last decade, especially that of 2021-2022, the most serious ever recorded in the EU. In comparison,2024 showed a more contained situation,although far from controlled. However, the emergence of new H5N1 clades, particularly those with increased pathogenicity and broader host ranges, is a growing concern. “Passive surveillance remains especially effective in detecting highly pathogenic viruses,” concludes EFSA, while active surveillance is key to identifying low pathogenic strains with the potential to evolve.
the EFSA report confirms that avian influenza remains a structural risk for animal health and public health in Europe, and that only coordinated surveillance, based on the ‘One Health’ approach, will allow us to anticipate future crises. As the document summarizes,”differences between countries reflect the diversity