Finland dismantles avian influenza infection zone as outbreak subsides
The Finnish Food Authority announced that it is dismantling the avian influenza infection zone that was established over the summer to prevent the bird-borne disease from spreading. At the same time, the rules regarding disease control measures to be taken in the infection zone will also be lifted. The decision was made because the avian influenza situation among wild birds has eased and the number of wild birds in Finland has significantly decreased due to migration. The decision took effect on 8 November 2023.
According to the Finnish Food Authority, there is no longer a need to impose an infection zone. Since August, only four cases of avian influenza of the type H5N1 have been detected in wild birds in the infection zone. In addition, only isolated cases among wild birds have been detected outside the infection zone. Mass deaths of black-headed gulls have no longer been observed, and these birds have left Finland for the winter.
The Finnish Food Authority considers that wild birds no longer pose an elevated infection risk to poultry and other captive birds which would justify imposing an infection zone.
In the summer of 2023, a highly infectious type of avian influenza, H5N1, was diagnosed among wild birds and fur animals in Finland. In July, the Finnish Food Authority established an avian influenza infection zone, which was extended to cover the Uusimaa region on 25 July. Keeping poultry and captive birds outdoors in the infection zone was prohibited to prevent the spread of the disease. This infection zone was dismantled on 8 November 2023.
There are no large poultry farming facilities in Espoo, Kirkkonummi or Kauniainen, such as broiler or turkey farms or large egg-producing farms. There are, however, several recreational chicken keepers.
In Espoo, the only case of avian influenza this year was diagnosed in a herring gull on 6 September. A table of confirmed avian influenza cases is available on the website of the Finnish Food Authority(external link, opens in a new window).
Disease control measures continue at fur farms, but new cases of avian influenza have not been detected at fur farms after September.