Between 24 June and 1 September 2023, HPAI outbreaks were reported in domestic (25) and wild (482) birds across 21 European countries, according to the latest report on avian influenza by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the EU reference laboratory (EURL).

Wild and domestic carnivores continued to be the most affected mammal species with Finland reporting 26 outbreaks in fur farms keeping America mink, red and Arctic foxes, and common raccoon. The most likely source of introduction was contact with wild gulls, but between-farm transmission cannot be completely excluded. Within-farm transmission occurred with some contact animals not showing any clinical signs of infection.

ECDC assessed that the risk of infection with HPAI virus in Europe remains low for the general population, and low to moderate for occupationally or otherwise exposed people to infected birds or mammals (wild or domestic). To further…