Highly pathogenic avian influenza has killed hundreds of millions of birds in recent years and recently spread to US dairy cows, disrupting supply chains and raising concerns over food prices and potential human transmission.
Ireland confirmed its first outbreak in three years on Wednesday and ordered all poultry housed indoors. “The whole pattern of bird flu is changing,” said Nigel Sweetnam, chair of the Irish Farmers’ Association National Poultry Committee. “It”s all together very, very worrying.”
France, which culled over 20 million birds in 2021-22, imposed similar measures last month, followed by Britain on Tuesday. The Netherlands and Belgium acted earlier in October. Fifteen of the EU’s 27 member states have now recorded farm outbreaks this season.
Bird flu typically peaks in autumn with migratory birds, but the 688 outbreaks reported so far — compared to 189 at the same time last year — have raised alarm for commercial flocks. Germany remains the worst hit, with 58 outbreaks since August, compared with eight a year earlier.
Media reports say about one million birds have been culled. Several German states have imposed housing orders though no national mandate exists. Poland, the EU’s largest poultry producer, ranks second with 15 outbreaks but has not ordered confinement.