Avian flu outbreaks surge globally, raising alarm - WOAH
New wave exceeds previous year’s poultry cases in just five months
2 April 2025
3 minute read
By: The world is facing an intensifying battle against high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), as the latest data from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reveals an alarming increase in outbreaks during the current seasonal wave.
Between October 2024 and February 2025, the number of reported outbreaks in poultry (949) has already surpassed the total for the entire previous season (786), while wild bird cases have nearly equalled last year’s figures.
In February 2025 alone, 121 poultry outbreaks and 166 outbreaks in wild birds and mammals were recorded across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Over 11 million poultry birds died or were culled in response—most significantly in the Americas—underscoring the persistent economic and animal health toll of the virus.
Europe reported rising cases among wild birds since January, and the United Kingdom confirmed infections in mammals, including grey seals. Meanwhile, field researchers in Antarctica continue to flag suspected HPAI cases across sub-Antarctic islands and even on the continent itself, sparking urgent fears for native wildlife and ecological balance.
The virus’s spread is now not only a matter of food security and animal health but also of global biodiversity. Experts are especially troubled by the southward expansion of the H5 virus lineage, which has already triggered major wildlife mortality events in South America and could devastate Antarctica’s fragile ecosystems.
Countries such as Nepal, Niger, and regions of Australia reported new poultry outbreaks in February, while ongoing events continued in countries like Nigeria, the United States, and Korea. In Europe, the virus has re-emerged in Belgium, Sweden, the UK and others, with the H5N1 strain dominant. Notably, no country reported using vaccination as an emergency response during this period.
In non-poultry species, new infections were confirmed in 24 countries, including Argentina, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Worryingly, the virus continues to affect mammalian hosts in North America and Europe, pointing to possible adaptation risks and zoonotic threats.
Despite this grim picture, France and the Czech Republic successfully declared themselves free of HPAI in poultry earlier in February, following WOAH guidelines. These declarations offer a rare glimpse of recovery and highlight the potential for control through rigorous biosecurity and surveillance measures.
Key takeaways:
- The current HPAI wave has surpassed the previous season’s poultry outbreak numbers within just five months.
- Over 11 million poultry deaths or culls occurred in February alone.
- Wild birds and mammals, including species in the UK and Antarctica, are increasingly affected.
- Virus spread continues across five continents, with no emergency poultry vaccinations reported in February.
- WOAH underscores the critical need for transparent reporting, early detection, and global cooperation.
WOAH recommendations:
To address the escalating threat, WOAH urges member states to strengthen their surveillance systems and farm-level biosecurity, ensure timely outbreak reporting across all animal species, and protect those in close contact with infected livestock. The organisation also encourages sharing genetic data of virus strains and cautions against unjustified trade restrictions. In collaboration with the FAO, WOAH’s newly launched global strategy (2024–2033) seeks to guide countries in reducing HPAI’s impact over the coming decade—anchored in the principles of One Health, integrating animal, human, and environmental health efforts.
