Europe’s Avian Flu Crisis: 15 Nations Cull Tens of Millions of Poultry as Outbreak Hits Decade High​

Europe is grappling with its worst avian flu outbreak in nearly a decade, with 15 EU countries reporting 688 farm cases as of early November 2025— a 264% surge from 189 cases in the same period last year. The crisis has forced emergency measures, including nationwide poultry confinement orders and mass culling, while virus mutations and migratory bird transmission have amplified risks to both the industry and public health.

I. Avian Flu Strikes Back Violently: Multiple European Countries Issue Highest-Level Alerts

(1) Epidemic Data Hits Historic High, Disrupting Prevention Rhythms

In the autumn and winter of 2025, Europe is experiencing its most severe avian flu outbreak in nearly a decade. As of early November, 15 out of the 27 EU member states have reported farm outbreaks, totaling 688 cases—an astonishing 264% increase compared to 189 cases in the same period of 2024. Germany has become the hardest-hit region, reporting 58 outbreaks between August and October, accounting for 42% of the EU’s total cases (vs. only 8 cases in the same period last year). After confirming its first outbreak in three years, Ireland imposed a national poultry confinement order on November 6, becoming the 7th EU country to implement such a measure. The UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and other countries have also taken action, restricting outdoor activities of poultry while intensifying monitoring and culling efforts.

The spread speed and scope of this outbreak have exceeded expectations, disrupting prevention and control plans across countries. Historical data shows that avian flu typically peaks in winter, but this year’s outbreak started earlier, with sporadic cases emerging as early as summer—leaving prevention work in a more passive position. The region’s poultry industry has suffered a heavy blow: massive culling of birds has not only caused direct economic losses but also undermined the stability of related industrial chains.

(2) Virus Mutations Break Transmission Patterns; Experts Issue "Red Alert"

Nigel Sweetnam, Chair of the Irish Farmers' Association National Poultry Committee, noted three "abnormalities" in this season’s outbreak: transmission started one month earlier than usual; the infection range expanded from Northern Europe to the Iberian Peninsula; and cross-infection cases between wild birds and poultry surged. Data from France’s Animal Health Monitoring Platform indicates that the H5N1 virus has evolved stronger environmental adaptability—it can survive at 4°C for over 30 days, significantly increasing prevention difficulties in autumn and winter.

Virus mutation is the key factor behind the uncontrolled outbreak. Scientists have found that the H5N1 virus continues to undergo gene mutations during transmission, enabling it to cross species barriers, infect more mammals, and even pose a risk of human-to-human transmission. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a critical mutation was detected in the H5N1 virus from a severely ill patient, enhancing its ability to bind to human respiratory cells. This discovery has raised great concern among global health experts, who warn that continued virus mutation could trigger a large-scale human epidemic.

II. From Ireland to Spain: Prevention Upgrades Behind Confinement Orders

(1) National "Indoor Confinement" Becomes Standard; Multiple Countries Enter "Emergency Mode"

Facing the aggressive avian flu, European countries have adopted strict prevention measures. National "indoor confinement" of poultry has become a common practice, and many countries have even entered "emergency mode."

Ireland implemented a nationwide poultry confinement order on November 6: all poultry, including chickens, ducks, and geese, are prohibited from outdoor rearing. Farms must build fully enclosed isolation facilities to ensure complete separation between poultry and the external environment. Violators face fines of up to €25,000. This measure aims to cut off virus transmission routes and protect poultry from infection.

France, which culled over 20 million birds during the 2021-2022 season, reactivated its national confinement order in October this year. In addition to requiring commercial farms to install air filtration systems, small-scale rural farmers must also move their poultry indoors. The French government has also strengthened supervision of farms and increased testing frequency to ensure timely detection and control of the epidemic.

Spain launched a "Risk Level Upgrade Plan" on November 10, moving all 3 million commercial birds nationwide indoors. A 3-kilometer monitoring zone was established around each farm, with disinfection conducted twice daily. Furthermore, the Spanish government has enhanced monitoring of migratory bird routes to prevent wild birds from transmitting the virus to poultry.

While these strict measures bring inconvenience to the poultry industry, they are necessary to protect poultry and control the epidemic amid the severe situation. Governments are also providing support to help farmers cope with difficulties, such as subsidies and technical guidance.

(2) Prevention Chain Extends to Wild Birds: Dual Pressure on Ecology and Farming

Avian flu transmission is not limited to poultry—wild birds have become important vectors. Therefore, European countries have extended their prevention chains to wild birds, forming a dual prevention pattern covering both ecology and farming.

As early as October, the Netherlands and Belgium launched a "Wild Bird-Poultry Joint Prevention Mechanism," setting up over 2,000 virus monitoring stations along migratory routes and conducting 100% testing of dead wild bird samples. Monitoring wild birds helps track virus transmission dynamics in a timely manner, providing a scientific basis for prevention work. Once avian flu is detected in wild birds, relevant authorities immediately take measures such as isolation and culling to prevent virus transmission to poultry.

Germany has even introduced an "Aerial Isolation Zone," deploying drone swarms along the Baltic Sea coast to track the migration routes of geese and ducks in real time, avoiding direct contact with farms. Equipped with advanced monitoring equipment, these drones transmit data in real time to support prevention decisions. Germany has also strengthened patrols in coastal areas, prohibiting human activities near migratory bird habitats to reduce virus transmission risks.

Although these wild bird-targeted measures increase prevention costs and difficulties, they play a key role in stopping avian flu transmission. However, they have also sparked controversy—some worry that monitoring and preventing wild birds may have a negative impact on the ecological environment. Therefore, balancing ecological protection and epidemic prevention has become a challenge for governments.

III. Three Overlapping Factors: Why This Season's Outbreak Is "Unprecedentedly Severe"?

(1) "Temporal and Spatial Resonance" Between Migratory Season and Virus Mutation

Migratory birds are an important route for avian flu transmission, and this year’s "temporal and spatial resonance" between the migratory season and virus mutation has made the prevention situation even more severe. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) pointed out that 18% of geese and ducks on the East Asian-Australasian migratory route in 2025 carry the H5N1 virus—a significant increase from 5% in 2024. When these migratory birds pass through intensive farming areas in Germany and Poland, they contaminate water sources with feces, allowing the virus to invade commercial flocks within 72 hours.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northern Germany is an important stopover for migratory birds and a concentrated area for poultry farming. In September this year, multiple local farms experienced avian flu outbreaks, with the source traced to a flock of passing geese. The virus spread rapidly in a short period, leading to the culling of thousands of poultry. Experts analyze that virus mutations have extended its survival time in migratory birds and enhanced its transmission ability—key reasons for the large-scale outbreak during the migratory season.

(2) Farming Density and Climate Create a "Transmission Hotbed"

The increasing density of poultry farming in the EU and this year’s abnormal climate in Europe have jointly created a "hotbed" for avian flu transmission. EU poultry farming density has increased by 27% compared to 2015; countries like Germany and the Netherlands have over 5,000 birds per square kilometer. This high-density farming environment provides a large number of hosts for rapid virus spread.

Europe has experienced continuous autumn rains this year, with humidity 15% higher than usual. This humid environment extends the virus’s survival time in the environment by 40%. In the Netherlands, persistent rainfall has caused problems with drainage systems on many farms, leading to sewage overflow. The virus spreads rapidly in sewage, causing neighboring farms to become infected one after another. The humid environment also reduces poultry immunity, making them more vulnerable to the virus and further increasing cross-infection risks.

(3) Prevention Policies Lag Behind Virus Evolution

Although many countries established avian flu early warning systems in 2023, these policies still lag behind the "early-arriving" virus this year, leaving countries in a passive response situation. Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture admitted that when wild bird infection cases surged in September, some farms still followed the tradition of "autumn outdoor rearing," missing the optimal prevention window.

In France, supervision loopholes existed in small-scale farms in the early stages of the outbreak, failing to detect hidden risks in a timely manner. Only after the outbreak spread did the government rush to take measures, leading to further spread within a certain range. The lag in prevention policies not only reflects deficiencies in national epidemic monitoring and early warning but also highlights the limitations of traditional prevention strategies in the face of rapidly evolving viruses. To effectively respond to avian flu, countries need to strengthen virus monitoring, adjust prevention policies in a timely manner, and improve the flexibility and timeliness of epidemic response.

IV. Industrial Chain Turmoil: From Tens of Millions of Poultry Culled to Food Price Alerts

(1) The Poultry Industry Faces a "Devastating Blow"

The avian flu outbreak has dealt a heavy blow to Europe’s poultry industry. Massive culling of birds has caused huge losses to farms: France culled over 3 million birds in the third quarter of 2025, with many farmers losing years of hard work. Spain’s poultry inventory has decreased by 12% compared to the beginning of the year, and many farms face the dilemma of empty coops. The vacancy rate of layer farms in the Netherlands has reached 25%, leading to a sharp decline in egg production.

Eurostat predicts that EU poultry meat production will decrease by 8.5% in 2025—the largest drop since 2005. This not only directly affects farmers’ income but also threatens the survival and development of the entire poultry industry. Many small-scale farmers have gone bankrupt due to unbearable economic losses, while large-scale farming enterprises also face the risk of capital chain breakage. To cope with the crisis, some farmers have begun to seek government support and assistance, hoping to obtain subsidies and loans to maintain farm operations.

(2) Food Prices "Add Fuel to the Fire"

The impact of avian flu on food prices cannot be ignored, adding more pressure to the already unstable food market. Affected by confinement orders, egg prices in Germany have risen by 18% monthly, with many consumers complaining about high prices. Turkey wholesale prices in the UK have increased by 45% year-on-year; as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, rising turkey prices have significantly increased the cost of holiday meals for many families. In Spain, 30% of chicken processing enterprises have suspended production due to raw material shortages, leading to tight supply of chicken products in the market.

A more far-reaching impact lies in supply chain restructuring. The EU’s dependence on poultry meat imports from non-epidemic areas has soared from 15% in 2024 to 28%, pushing up global poultry trade costs. To meet domestic market demand, the EU has had to increase poultry meat imports from non-epidemic countries such as Brazil and the United States. This not only increases transportation costs and trade risks but also intensifies price volatility in the global poultry market. Some countries have begun to impose restrictions on imported poultry meat to protect their domestic poultry industries, further exacerbating tensions in global poultry trade.

(3) Cross-Species Transmission Risks Heighten Public Health Concerns

Another hidden danger of the avian flu outbreak is the risk of cross-species transmission, which has heightened concerns in the public health sector. Following the 2024 U.S. dairy herd infection incident, Germany recently detected the H5N1 virus in wild minks, triggering panic about "virus spread to mammals." Scientists worry that if the virus spreads widely among mammals, it will increase the risk of mutation and cross-species transmission to humans.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urgently reminded that although there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, poultry industry workers must strengthen protection and avoid direct contact with bird secretions. Health departments in various countries have also enhanced health monitoring of farm workers and poultry market employees, requiring them to wear protective equipment and undergo regular nucleic acid testing. Once a person is found infected with the avian flu virus, they will be immediately isolated for treatment to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The public has also been reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene, avoid eating undercooked poultry meat and eggs, and reduce contact with wild birds.

V. When Avian Flu Becomes a "Seasonal Test": How Can Humans Coexist with the Virus Long-Term?

(1) Technological Upgrades Strengthen the Prevention Barrier

Facing the severe challenge of avian flu, technological upgrades have become the key to prevention. An increasing number of high-tech methods are being applied to avian flu prevention, building a solid barrier for the poultry industry.

Muyuan Foods’ European subsidiary has piloted an "AI Virus Monitoring System." Through cameras installed throughout the farm, the system identifies abnormal bird behaviors in real time, such as coughing and listlessness. Once abnormalities are detected, the system immediately initiates air sample testing; combined with big data analysis, it shortens the epidemic detection time to within 2 hours. This system greatly improves the efficiency and accuracy of epidemic monitoring, gaining valuable time for timely prevention measures.

The Netherlands has developed a "nano-coated poultry house" to block virus transmission from the source. Using special nano-coating technology, this poultry house can automatically kill viruses attached to fences and walls, reducing the infection rate by 60%. The nano-coating also has waterproof and antibacterial functions, maintaining clean hygiene inside the poultry house and providing a safe growth environment for poultry.

In addition, several new technologies are in the R&D and testing stage, such as gene editing technology (to enhance poultry’s antiviral ability through gene editing) and smart wearable devices (equipping poultry with smart ankle rings or collars to monitor their health status and movement trajectory in real time, issuing alerts when abnormalities are detected). The continuous emergence of these new technologies brings new hope for avian flu prevention.

(2) Policy Shift to "Preventive Farming"

Driven by the epidemic, European countries' prevention policies are shifting from "emergency response" to "preventive farming," reducing the risk of avian flu from the source.

The EU is promoting the "2026-2030 Avian Flu Prevention Plan," requiring member states to increase the proportion of indoor farming to 70% and provide a 30% subsidy to farms adopting closed ventilation systems. Indoor farming can effectively reduce contact between poultry and wild birds, lowering virus transmission risks. Closed ventilation systems can filter viruses in the air, ensuring clean air inside the poultry house.

Spain has taken the lead in legislating to ban the construction of new farms within 5 kilometers of migratory bird routes. This measure aims to avoid close contact between poultry and virus-carrying migratory birds, reducing virus transmission opportunities. Spain has also strengthened supervision of farms, requiring regular disinfection and testing, and strict implementation of biosecurity measures.

France has launched a "Poultry Health Passport" system: each bird has a unique electronic ID that records information such as rearing, immunization, and testing. Through this system, regulatory authorities can monitor poultry health in real time; once an epidemic is detected, they can quickly trace the source and take corresponding prevention measures.

The introduction of these policies reflects governments’ attention to avian flu prevention and provides guarantees for the sustainable development of the poultry industry. However, policy implementation still needs to overcome difficulties such as changing farmers’ mindsets and increasing capital investment—requiring joint efforts from the government, enterprises, and farmers.

(3) Global Cooperation to Solve the "Migratory Virus" Dilemma

Avian flu transmission has no national borders; global cooperation is the key to solving the "migratory virus" dilemma. The WOAH has called for the establishment of a "Eurasian Migratory Bird Virus Monitoring Alliance" to share real-time migration data and virus gene sequences. Through this alliance, countries can grasp migratory bird routes and virus transmission in real time, making early prevention preparations.

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has reached an agreement with the EU to mutually recognize avian flu-free zones, ensuring zero virus import in trade. This agreement not only helps ensure the safety of poultry product trade between the two sides but also provides valuable experience for global avian flu prevention.

In addition, countries are strengthening scientific research cooperation to jointly develop new vaccines and diagnostic technologies. Research teams from the United States, China, the EU, and other countries and regions are conducting joint research to develop a universal vaccine for effective prevention and treatment of avian flu. Several new diagnostic technologies are also emerging, such as rapid detection kits and gene sequencing technology, which can detect viruses more quickly and accurately.

Global cooperation is an inevitable choice for responding to the avian flu epidemic. Only through joint efforts can countries effectively control avian flu transmission and protect human health and the development of the poultry industry.

Conclusion: When "Flying Birds" Become Virus Vectors—What Survival Wisdom Do Humans Need?

From the grasslands of Ireland to the farms of Spain, tens of millions of poultry have been forced to "move indoors." This is not only a helpless measure to deal with the raging virus but also an opportunity for humans to re-examine their relationship with nature. As the collision between migratory birds, virus mutations, and farming models becomes the new normal, only by organically integrating technological prevention, policy guidance, and ecological protection can we find an effective way to avoid the next crisis on a planet where "humans and birds coexist." After all, the raging avian flu is not a challenge for a single species but a severe test of the resilience of the entire ecosystem.

(Source: Modern Animal Husbandry Network)