Bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is causing concern in Europe due to its potential impact on poultry flocks and trade restrictions.

The disease primarily spreads through migrating wild birds, resulting in 56 reported outbreaks across 10 EU countries and Britain from August to mid-October, mainly in Poland, Spain, and Germany.

This year marks the first time in at least a decade that bird flu has spread to 10 countries this early in the season, although the total number of outbreaks remains lower than in 2022, when Europe faced its worst-ever bird flu crisis with 31 outbreaks in nine countries during the same period.

The recent rapid spread of bird flu has prompted Belgium and Slovakia to report their first cases of the season, leading Belgium to order all poultry to be kept indoors.

France, a major poultry producer, has also issued similar orders following outbreaks in Spain and Germany.

The risk of human infection remains low, as most reported human cases involve individuals who have been in close contact with infected animals.

However, monitoring the virus' spread to mammals is crucial, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

France has initiated its third annual bird flu vaccination campaign for farm ducks, claiming it has helped curb the disease's progression.

Bird flu has also affected other regions such as the US and Asia, where over 180 million birds were culled, impacting egg prices and infecting dairy cows and people.

Despite facing an outbreak, Brazil, the world's largest poultry exporter, is now free of bird flu.

Japan recently reported its first case of the season.