Bird flu cases usually peak in autumn, in line with the migration of wild birds. However, this year Europe is facing an extraordinary surge in cases, with Germany emerging as the most severely affected country, having been forced to cull one million poultry.

Europe is currently on high alert for a new wave of avian influenza, particularly driven by the dominant H5N1 strain. This spike in cases has compelled several countries to impose strict quarantines and housing orders to protect domestic poultry populations and prevent cross-farm virus transmission.

Caused by the Avian Influenza virus, the outbreak has further heightened concerns among the European poultry industry and governments, as it has led to the death of hundreds of thousands to millions of birds over the past few years.

According to a Reuters report, Ireland began enforcing a nationwide housing order in early November 2025, after confirming its first bird flu case in the past three years. All poultry are required to be kept indoors to minimize contact with migratory wild birds, which are considered the primary vectors of virus transmission.

According to Nigel Sweetman, Chairman of the Irish Farmers Association National Poultry Committee, the pattern of bird flu is changing. This year, the virus arrived one month earlier than usual and appeared in different geographic locations across Ireland, making the outbreak extremely concerning.

Similar policies requiring poultry to be kept indoors were first implemented in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in October, followed by the United Kingdom in early November. For France, in particular, this epidemic revives memories of the devastating outbreaks in 2021–2022, when more than 20 million poultry were culled.

A Significant Number of Cases

Of the 27 European Union countries, 15 reported bird flu outbreaks during the autumn season (September–November) of 2025. While bird flu cases typically peak during autumn due to wild bird migration, this year saw an exceptional increase, with around 688 outbreaks, or approximately 500 more cases than last year.

In Germany, 58 bird flu outbreaks were reported between August and October 2025. This figure is exceptionally high, accounting for 43% of total cases across the European Union and the United Kingdom during the same period. Germany has thus been described as the worst-affected country in the EU. By comparison, the country reported only eight cases last year. This surge forced Germany to cull one million poultry.

Meanwhile, Poland recorded the second-highest number of cases, although it has not yet mandated nationwide poultry confinement. To date, the EU’s largest poultry producer has reported 15 bird flu cases on poultry farms.

In addition to housing orders, biosecurity measures have been strengthened, including enhanced farm sanitation, restricted access to poultry houses, and expanded monitoring of migratory wild birds. Several countries are also evaluating poultry vaccination strategies as a long-term mitigation measure, although implementation still faces regulatory and logistical challenges.

The impact of the outbreak is being strongly felt across the poultry sector. Mass culling, transport restrictions, and mandatory housing have disrupted supply chains, reduced production, and increased operational costs.

This article is an excerpt from the Management Practices section of Poultry Indonesia Magazine – December 2025 Edition.
Read the full article in Poultry Indonesia Magazine, December 2025 Edition.
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