Five European countries report cases of bird flu

 

Headline:  WATT Poultry, 10/12/2026

Jackie Linden reports:

Article Summary 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks involving H5 viruses have been confirmed in poultry across five European countries—Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—over the past month, with hundreds of thousands of birds affected and 316 total farm outbreaks reported across Europe in 2026. 

• Five European nations have confirmed HPAI outbreaks in poultry involving H5 family viruses since September 2026 

• Bulgaria reported 41,000 affected birds across two farms, bringing the nation's 12-month total to 18 outbreaks 

• 2026 European totals show 316 poultry outbreaks in 16 countries, compared to 729 outbreaks across 23 countries in all of 2025 

• H5N1 virus variant dominates confirmed cases, with Poland leading at 143 outbreaks, followed by Germany with 40 

• Wild bird infections continue spreading with 2,709 HPAI outbreaks logged across Europe in 2026, primarily involving H5N1

Other European bird flu posts:

October 2026

Hungary and Spain report cases of Newcastle disease.  (10/9)

Hungary reports 4th case of Newcastle disease in September.  (10/2)

September 2026

Hungary and Spain report cases of Newcastle disease.  (9/1(0

Poland reports case of Newcastle disease.  (9/15)

France and Bulgaria report cases of bird flu.  (9/11)

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)