Europe opens a nervous avian influenza season: UK raises wild-bird risk, Belgium confirms H5N1

Europe's 2026/27 avian influenza season opened in the last days of September: the UK raised its wild-bird risk level, Belgium confirmed its first H5N1 of the season and Cyprus ordered nationwide housing, while WOAH data show wild-bird detections overseas more than doubled this year.

Defra raised the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in wild birds in Great Britain from low to medium on 1 October 2026 - the first upward move of the 2026/27 season. Poultry risk was not raised with it and stands at low, low being cut further where stringent biosecurity is consistently applied. No avian influenza prevention zone is in force in England, Scotland or Wales, the GB zone having been lifted on 4 June, and the UK's self-declared freedom from HPAI of 18 May 2026 is unaffected.

Belgium confirmed highly pathogenic H5N1 on 30 September at a non-commercial hobby holding at Tongeren-Borgloon in Limburg, with a 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone running to at least 30 October; poultry and captive birds inside the zones must be housed and gatherings are banned. Because the holding is non-commercial, Belgium retains its disease-free status. Cyprus imposed a national housing requirement on 29 September after H5N1 was found in a wild bird at Athalassa National Forest Park near Nicosia; tests to establish pathogenicity were continuing with the EU reference laboratory at the time of the report, and five human contacts are under observation with all tests negative so far. No new cases were recorded that week in France, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy or Spain.

• United Kingdom: wild-bird H5 risk raised from low to medium on 1 October, the season's first move; poultry risk left at low; no prevention zone in force.
• Belgium: H5N1 confirmed 30 September on a non-commercial holding, with 3 km and 10 km zones to at least 30 October; disease-free status retained.
• Cyprus: nationwide housing order from 29 September after H5N1 in a wild bird near Nicosia; human contacts under observation and negative so far.
• Germany: Cologne Zoo closed several enclosures after avian influenza was found in quarantined waterfowl on 28 September; no subtype was published.
• Global context: WOAH-reported high-pathogen AI detections in wild birds overseas rose from 1,432 in January-August 2025 to 2,957 in January-August 2026, South Korea's environment and agriculture ministries said on 6 October.

For buyers the practical point is that disease control is now regional rather than national. Suspensions increasingly target counties, provinces and protection zones instead of whole countries, so supply can continue from unaffected areas - provided the paperwork can prove it. Plant approval for the destination market, the halal certificate, a veterinary health certificate naming the correct production region and a certificate of origin that matches the goods are what decide whether a container moves or waits.

Nau International Food Group supplies halal frozen poultry and frozen meat from HACCP-certified, GACC-registered plants, with halal certificates, veterinary health certificates and certificates of origin issued for each shipment. We arrange customs clearance and delivery into Dubai and onward distribution across the Gulf, Africa and Central Asia. For specifications, packing data and current offers, write to info@naufoodgroup.com.

Sources: BFREPA, European HPAI sweep - week to 1 October 2026, published 2 October 2026, citing Defra and Belgian and Cypriot veterinary authorities; Aju Press, 6 October 2026, citing the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and South Korea's Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.