The World Organisation for Animal Health announced on Friday that Hungary has registered its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (“H5N1”) in a poultry farm during the current season, coinciding with the escalating spread of this deadly disease across the European continent.

The outbreak of avian influenza raises concerns among governments and the poultry industry, especially after the heavy losses it caused in bird populations around the world in recent years, which resulted in disruption to supply chains, rising food prices, and an increased likelihood of transmission to humans.

Hungary has suffered particularly from this virus during the 2024-2025 season, with official data indicating that the number of cases recorded there represents more than half of the total cases recorded on poultry farms in EU countries, noting that the majority of these cases appeared during the period between the end of October and May.

The Paris-based organization quoted a report issued by the Hungarian authorities stating that the virus was discovered on Monday in a flock of 19,700 ducks in the town of Szolnok, where it caused the death of 725 birds. The rest of the flock was culled as a precaution.

(Reuters)