About Avian Influenza (AI)
Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease which occurs primarily in poultry and wild water birds. Avian influenza viruses are either high or low pathogenic viruses (HPAI and LPAI, respectively) depending on the molecular characteristic of the virus and its ability to cause disease and mortality in chickens.
Wild birds are natural hosts and reservoirs for all types of avian influenza viruses, so play a major role in the evolution, maintenance and spread of these viruses.
Poultry infected with LPAI viruses may show mild signs of the disease or none at all. Infections caused by HPAI can cause severe disease and death. Both HPAI and LPAI can spread quickly through flocks. Moreover, certain LPAI viruses can mutate into highly pathogenic strains, which is why it is important that outbreaks are managed promptly. See more information on AI here: EFSA, WOAH.
Questions and answers
See frequently asked questions on Avian Influenza.
HPAI outbreaks
Epidemic season 2024-2025
The 2024-2025 epidemic season started earlier than usual, with detections of HPAI virus in migratory birds already in September 2024.
The geographical distribution of the detected HPAI cases in the current epidemic season, as well as the epidemic curve and details on the number of HPAI outbreaks notified can be found in the ADIS HPAI report.
See information on HPAI outbreaks in previous years.
Risk assessments
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific opinion on avian influenza in 2017 and since then, quarterly reports on the development of the avian influenza situation in the EU and worldwide.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control collaborates with EFSA on these reports. ECDC also publishes reports and risk assessments in relation to the relevance of avian influenza for humans: risk assessment on public health.
Prevention and control measures for HPAI
All suspected cases of HPAI in poultry or captive birds must be investigated and appropriate measures must be taken in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2016/429 ("Animal Health Law") and the rules for the prevention and control of certain diseases laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.
In confirmed cases, to limit the spread, stamping-out measures must be implemented in the infected poultry or captive bird establishments as soon as possible. Feeding stuffs, contaminated equipment and manure must be destroyed or treated to inactivate the virus.
If necessary, stamping-out measures can also be extended to poultry farms in the vicinity or to farms that have had dangerous contacts with infected farm.
To prevent further spread of disease, a protection zone of at least 3km radius and surveillance zone of at least 10km radium must be established around the affected establishment. Movement restrictions must be put in place on the affected establishment and establishments in the restricted zone.
At farm level, measures must be taken to prevent contact of poultry with wild birds. Preventive hygiene measures, such as cleaning and disinfection, are also required. The strictest bio-security measures must be applied to prevent the introduction of the HPAI virus in other establishments and the (further) spread of the disease.
The measures taken are in line with the requirements of the Word Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
EU zoning/emergency measures
To avoid unjustified disruptions in the movement of animals and products within the EU and in international trade, the Commission adopts Implementing Decisions to list the restricted zones. These zones are established in collaboration with the affected Member States.
The latest specific zoning measures that have been taken with respect to evolution of HPAI situation in the Union are included in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2213 of 27 October 2025 amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 concerning emergency measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States.
If needed, additional emergency measures can be adopted by the Commission, in collaboration with the Member States, through the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.
Vaccination against HPAI
Vaccination against HPAI may be used as an emergency or preventive measure, based on an official vaccination plan and under the control of the competent authority. Vaccination must be based on a risk assessment and be deemed appropriate and necessary.
Member States must inform the Commission and the other Member States when deciding to implement HPAI vaccination, with details of their vaccination plan. They must regularly report on the implementation of such plan.
Vaccinated birds may still become infected by the virus. They must therefore be monitored closely to detect virus infection, to prevent the spread of the virus through vaccinated animals or their products.
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 lays down specific rules to be implemented by Member States when using vaccination in poultry or captive birds to prevent or control HPAI. It sets the conditions that enable movement of vaccinated animals and their products. These rules have been in force since 12 March 2023 and are in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) international standards.
For more information, see the Commission’s presentation at the 2023 WOAH General Session.
Surveillance for Avian Influenza
EU Member States must carry out compulsory surveillance programmes to ensure early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, as well as infections with viruses of subtypes H5 and H7 with low pathogenicity which have the potential to mutate to the highly pathogenic form of the virus.
This surveillance is compulsory. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/690 also lists high and low pathogenic avian influenza as subject to Union surveillance programmes.
Avian influenza surveillance in poultry and wild birds must be implemented on the entire territory of all EU Member States and in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689.
In accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002 Member States shall submit to the Commission every year, data on the results of the implementation of the Union surveillance programmes. The data shall be submitted electronically via the Animal Disease Information System (ADIS).
European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL)
The designated as EURL for Avian Influenza - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Italy -is actively assisting in the diagnosis of HPAI outbreaks in Member States, by carrying out confirmatory diagnoses. It also ensures that Member States’ national reference laboratories implement harmonized and up-to-date diagnostic protocols for Avian Influenza.
EU External Response
The European Commission works closely with international partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
In December 2005, the Commission co-hosted an international pledging conference on Avian influenza with the World Bank and the People's Republic of China. The international community pledged a total amount of EUR 1.57 billion to fight avian influenza and prepare for a possible flu pandemic. Europe played a central role in the fundraising effort. The Commission pledged EUR 100 million and the EU in total pledged around EUR 214 million.
Zoonotic Avian Influenza preparedness
In addition to the risk assessments by EFSA, ECDC and EURL, the EU has launched a number of actions in relation to the unprecedented events of detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cows in USA.
The EU has a well-developed, harmonized set of rules and procedures to manage the potential risk of HPAI epidemiological changes, given the virus currently circulating in dairy cows in the USA. In this context, the Commission issued a guidance document on zoonotic avian influenza preparedness, outlining potential prevention, preparedness and response actions (see document).
It provides information on the: current EU measures and situations justifying EU measures in animals other than birds, and food; ongoing EC prevention and preparedness actions; possible regulatory reaction measures in animals and food; disease notification and reporting.
Human Health Implications
The infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is primarily a bird disease and has so far affected only humans who came into very close contact with infected birds. However, the concern is that this virus could mutate into a strain which is transmissible from human to human.
This in turn could lead to a human influenza pandemic. The European Union is currently devoting important resources into preparing for such an eventuality.
Joint meetings of Member States' Chief Veterinary and Chief Medical Officers on Influenza Preparedness take place on a regular basis, in the context of One Health.
For more information, see: [Link to One Health Avian Flu page]