The current widespread and early outbreak of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) sweeping across Europe and North America is predominantly caused by the highly pathogenic strain H5N1. This subtype of the influenza A virus has been responsible for unprecedented damage to poultry flocks and has increasingly been reported in various wild bird species across continents.
Economic and Agricultural Fallout
The economic costs of a severe bird flu outbreak are far-reaching and can impact entire economies, not just the poultry sector. The primary economic impacts include:
• Direct Losses to the Poultry Sector: This involves the loss of poultry due to the disease itself, and massive losses due to mandatory culling of birds as a control measure. This directly affects farmers and leads to reduced production of poultry and eggs.
• Supply Chain Disruption: The impact extends to upstream and downstream industries, including feed mills, breeding farms, and poultry traders. Quarantine and restrictions on domestic and international trade can lead to a temporary breakdown of supply chains.
• Fiscal Burden: Governments incur a significant fiscal burden by having to compensate poultry owners for culled birds and by financing extensive animal health service and control costs (e.g., surveillance, monitoring).
• Market Instability and Food Prices: The culling reduces supply, leading to soaring market prices for eggs and poultry products. Consumer fear (zoonotic panic) can also lead to a sharp, temporary decline in demand for these products, further rattling livestock markets.
• Indirect Economic Costs: Outbreaks can cause losses in related sectors like tourism, and in a pandemic scenario, can lead to a general decline in labor productivity due to illness and high absenteeism.
Transmission and Strain Information
The H5N1 strain has been the dominant cause of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) detections reported in both domestic and wild birds across Europe and the Americas in 2025.
The virus is shed in the saliva, mucus, and feces of infected birds. Wild aquatic birds, particularly waterfowl, act as the natural asymptomatic reservoir for influenza A viruses, spreading them over large distances during their annual migration.
Domestic poultry can become infected through direct contact with infected wild birds or, more commonly, through viral contamination of the farm environment (e.g., contaminated feed, equipment, clothing, or feces). Implementing strict biosecurity measures is crucial to prevent the indirect spread of the virus.
While the widespread circulation of these avian influenza viruses in animal populations is a concern, global health agencies assess the risk of infection for the general human population as low, though the risk remains low-to-moderate for individuals with occupational exposure (e.g., farm workers).