Avian influenza in poultry

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute coordinates the surveillance of avian influenza in poultry on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in Norway for the first time in 2020, and the first outbreak in a commercial poultry flock occurred in 2021.

Avian influenza (AI) is monitored in poultry and wild birds:

The surveillance program for AI in poultry aims to document that Norwegian poultry flocks are free from influenza A viruses of subtypes H5 and H7.

The surveillance programme for AI in wild birds aims to monitor the occurrence of avian influenza viruses of subtypes H5 and H7 in wild birds.

2025

The reported surveillance is part of Norway’s contribution to the European Union Surveillance Programme for avian influenza and describes active surveillance of poultry. Active surveillance based on serological investigations to monitor avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in poultry in 2025 did not detect infection in poultry kept for commercial purposes in Norway.

This surveillance is routinely and systematically conducted, independent of the health status of the flocks. One outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected in domestic birds in 2025 at a commercial poultry holding with 7,500 laying hens. The outbreak was identified through passive surveillance following sampling initiated due to clinical suspicion.

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