France and Bulgaria report cases of bird flu

 

Headline:  WATT Poultry, 9/8/2026

Jackie Linden reports:

Article Summary 

Bulgaria and France confirmed their first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks of fall 2024 in late August, with the H5N1 virus detected in commercial duck flocks that resulted in hundreds of bird deaths across both countries. 

• Bulgaria and France each reported their first H5N1 avian flu cases of the fall season in late August 2024 

• France detected the virus in a flock of 7,600 ducks in Maine-et-Loire with approximately 150 birds dead; Bulgaria reported 260 deaths in a 14,000-duck flock 

• So far this year, 313 avian flu outbreaks have been confirmed in commercial poultry farms across 16 European countries, with Poland leading at 143 cases 

• Wild bird migrations entering fall season are increasing the risk of H5N1 transmission to domestic flocks, with 2,681 wild bird cases detected across Europe year-to-date. [emphasis added]

• France has maintained a mandatory vaccination program for commercial ducks against H5N1 since October 2023

Other European bird flu posts:

August 2026

Spain reports  cases of Newcastle disease.  (8/8)

UPDATE:  Newcastle disease in Europe. (8/5) 

Europe bird flu update from WATT Poultry.  (8/4)

July 2026

Spain reports 2 more cases of Newcastle disease.  (7/23=)

Long-term effects of bird flu on Gannet colonies in Scotland and Wales.  (7/4)

Spain reports 3 new cases of Newcastle Disease.  (7/3)

June 2026

France poultry news:  If its not bird flu killing chickens, its a monster heat wave. (6/26)

Sweden reports outbreak of bird flu.  (6/20)

Hatching eggs from Germany denied access into U.S. at Cincinnati Port of Entry due to bird flu concerns.  (6/14)

Germany reports 10 poultry flocks infected with Newcastle disease.  (6/11)

Multiple bird flu outbreaks in Poland.  (6/6)

May 2026

The Netherlands reports case of bird flu after a lull period.  (5/16)

Spain and Poland reports cases of Newcastle Disease.  (5/14)

France and Poland report outbreaks of bird flu.  (5/13)

Last week France eased bird flu restrictions. This week it reports 2 new outbreaks.  (5/1)

April 2026

Clinical trial of bird flu vaccine underway in United Kingdom.  (4/28)

With number of bird flu outbreaks decreasing, Netherlands drops housing order.  (4/26)

36 poultry farms in Poland have reported outbreaks of bird flu so far this month.  (4/22)

Germany, Spain, and Poland report additional cases of Newcastle disease

First human case of avian influenza reported in the European Union (Italy).  (4/13)

RSPB Bird and Wildlife Conservation Charity in United Kingdom recommends taking down bird feeders this summer.  (4/11)

Scotland bird flu news:  Bass Rock gannet population falls by almost a third since bird flu outbreak. (4/3)

Germany and Poland report multiple cases of Newcastle disease in poultry.  (4/1)

March 2026

23,000 pheasants depopulated in United Kingdom as result of bird flu outbreak.  (3/6)

February 2026

Bird flu likely cause of death of 24 swans in London.  (2/23)

Bird flu makes a return engagement to Poland and Hungary.  (2/10)

January 2026

10 European countries report 78 cases of bird flu during first 4 weeks of 2026.  (1/30)

11 European counties confirm cases of bird flu in since the start of the year.  (1/20)

Newcastle Disease, another highly contagious viral disease affecting birds, hit 4 flocks in Spain.  (1/12)

December 2025

Bird flu outbreaks continue apace in Europe.  (12/31)

Europe continues to deal with outbreaks of avian flu.  (12/24)

United Kingdom avian flu tally reaches 73 during 2025-26 season.  (12/22)

2025 avian flu tally in Europe:  654 outbreaks in 23 countries.  (12/17)

Patterns of avian flu outbreaks in Europe:  From farm to farm then, from wild birds to farms now.  (12/12)

November 2025

Widespread outbreaks of avian flu in Europe.  (11/17)

Avian flu taking a toll in Germany.  (11/13)

]5 swans die of avian flu in Bristol, England.  (11/11)

Germany reports 66 cases of avian flu since October 1.  (11/10)