The risk of avian influenza increases across Europe during the autumn and winter migration season. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission continue their #NoBirdFlu campaign, providing practical guidance on biosecurity measures to help poultry farms and backyard flock owners keep bird flu away. The campaign highlights that maintaining good biosecurity is a shared responsibility for everyone working on or visiting poultry holdings.
Cases of avian influenza typically increase in Europe during the winter months, when migratory birds move across the continent. During the last epidemic season, between October 2025 and June 2026, nearly 8,000 avian influenza outbreaks were detected in Europe. The number of cases identified in wild birds was four times higher than in the previous season.
Biosecurity measures remain the most effective way to prevent the transmission of the disease from wild birds to poultry and to stop its spread between holdings. The introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza into poultry establishments would result in significant economic losses due to the culling and disposal of infected birds and the sanitation of affected premises. It could also cause major disruption to the poultry sector through interruptions in food production and international trade.
Avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds, but some avian influenza viruses can also infect humans. Although the risk is currently low, a virus that acquires the ability to spread efficiently from person to person could potentially give rise to a new pandemic.
Practical biosecurity advice
The aim of the #NoBirdFlu campaign, launched by EFSA and the European Commission, is to raise awareness of simple yet effective biosecurity measures that can help prevent the virus from entering poultry farms and backyard flocks. The campaign provides practical guidance for commercial poultry producers, small-scale flock keepers and veterinarians.
The campaign focuses on five simple actions that can help reduce the risk of avian influenza:
- control access to poultry premises
- maintain effective cleaning and disinfection routines
- prevent contact between poultry and wild birds
- keep different poultry species separate
- recognise signs of disease early and act quickly
New campaign materials available
EFSA has published new communication materials to support the campaign, all of which are freely available for sharing and use. The toolkit includes infographics, posters, a video and social media content, which have been translated into all official EU languages.
EFSA encourages authorities, stakeholders and other partners to share the campaign materials widely. The objective is to increase awareness of effective biosecurity measures and thereby reduce the risk of avian influenza outbreaks across Europe.
The campaign toolkit can be downloaded here.
Further information:
- #NoBirdFlu campaign page and materials
- EFSA news article on the campaign
- Avian influenza (EFSA website)
- Avian influenza (Finnish Food Authority website)