Avian influenza cases in Finland

Avian influenza in Finland in 2021

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was found in Finland in January 2021 after a few years’ break. Exceptionally high mortality was noticed among wild pheasants living near a pheasant farm in Janakkala, and dead birds were sent to the Finnish Food Authority for examination. Tests showed that the pheasants had carried the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza with a high mortality rate. In February, the virus was seen to have spread to the birds at the nearby pheasant farm. Subsequently, highly pathogenic avian influenza has been found in wild birds across Finland. In addition to type H5N8, type H5N1 has been found as well. Highly pathogenic avian influenza has also been found in large numbers of birds in many European countries in the autumn of 2020 and in 2021 and cases have emerged in both wild birds and on poultry farms.

Map of the avian influenza cases detected in Finland in 2021 (19.11.2021)

Table of the HPAI cases detected in Finland in 2021

Surveillance of avian influenza

An annual avian influenza surveillance programme is carried out in Finland. Every year a couple of hundred poultry farms and about 100-150 wild birds are examined for avian influenza virus. In addition, all suspected cases of bird flu are examined for possible infection.

The results from previous years’ surveillance are available in the Animal diseases in Finland publications.

Avian influenza in Finland in 2018

The first avian influenza case of 2018 was found in March when a white-tailed eagle that was caught in good physical condition, was found to have the highly pathogenic H5N6 type avian influenza, which is linked with high mortality among birds. 

Avian influenza in Finland in 2016-2017

In Finland highly pathogenic avian influenza was first diagnosed at the end of November 2016 when a highly pathogenic H5N8 type avian influenza was found in tufted ducks found dead in the Åland Islands. Since then, highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in wild birds in other parts of Åland and in Southwest Finland. The highly pathogenic H5N8 type avian influenza was found in an aviary in Mariehamn. The highly-pathogenic version causes high mortality in most species of poultry.

When a case of highly-pathogenic avian influenza is confirmed, the Finnish Food Authority can set up a restriction zone around the area where the disease appeared.