Between 6 September and 14 November 2025, 1,443 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses were reported in wild birds across 26 European countries – four times higher than the same period in 2024 and the highest since at least 2016.
Waterfowl in various parts of Europe were heavily affected by HPAI during this period, including detections in apparently healthy wild birds, resulting in widespread environmental contamination. There were also high-mortality outbreaks in common cranes in Germany, France and Spain.
The vast majority of HPAI virus detections (99%) were…
