Denmark: bird flu on two turkey farms in a week — 67,000 birds culled as authorities urge poultry keepers to stay alert

What happened in Bøgelunde

On 23 October 2026 the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) reported highly pathogenic avian influenza in a large flock of turkeys in Bøgelunde, in Slagelse municipality on the island of Zealand. The diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory testing at the State Serum Institute (Statens Serum Institut).

All 40,000 turkeys are being culled — this stops the virus spreading and spares sick birds further suffering. It is the first outbreak of bird flu in domestic poultry in Denmark this season. The previous one was in April 2026.

The second outbreak — on Lolland

Less than a week later the virus was found on a second turkey farm — in Stokkemarke on the island of Lolland in the south of the country. The farm had 27,000 turkeys, which were culled on Monday 26 October. A protection zone and a surveillance zone were also set up around this farm, and stricter requirements apply to all bird keepers within them.

This is not the first such case for Denmark: in 2022, for example, 34,000 turkeys had to be culled on a farm near Skælskør.

Which rules apply in the zones

A protection zone and a surveillance zone were immediately set up around both farms. Under EU rules the protection zone covers at least 3 kilometres and the surveillance zone at least 10 kilometres. Everyone who keeps birds within these zones must follow common requirements:

• register their flock in the Danish livestock reporting system — even if it is only a few hens in the garden;
• not move live birds, eggs or poultry products into or out of the zone without a special permit from the authority;
• not hold markets, shows or competitions involving birds.

Registration is needed so that vets know where every bird in the zone lives and can quickly check all premises — including small ones.

The zones will be lifted once vets have inspected the premises within them and the risk of spread has fallen.

Why the outbreaks are starting now

The authority links the outbreaks directly to the autumn migration. Bird flu has been found in several wild birds in recent weeks, so the first case in domestic poultry came as no surprise to experts.

We usually see the most cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza when migratory birds fly over Denmark — as they are doing now, during the autumn migration.

Mette Kirkeskov Sie, veterinarian and head of section at Fødevarestyrelsen

Denmark lies on one of the main autumn migration routes: ducks, geese and other waterfowl from Scandinavia and northern Russia pass through on their way to their wintering grounds. The virus is shed in their droppings and can reach domestic birds via feed, water, bedding, or on footwear and equipment.

Denmark's current risk assessment dates from 4 May 2026: the risk of the virus being introduced by wild birds is considered medium. If the authority raises it to high, a nationwide requirement will come into force to keep poultry and other captive birds under a roof or netting so that they have no contact with wild birds. Denmark has introduced such measures in previous seasons too, usually for autumn and winter.

Why turkey farms are so vulnerable

Turkeys and chickens are highly susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza: the disease develops within days and birds die in large numbers. Ducks and geese, on the other hand, can carry the virus with almost no signs of illness — which is why wild waterfowl spread it so effectively. On a large farm where thousands of birds live in one house, the virus spreads very fast, and the only way to stop it is to cull the whole flock.

That is why large poultry farms follow strict rules: houses are entered only through a hygiene lock with a change of clothes, feed and bedding are stored under cover, and vehicles are disinfected. But even the strictest protection cannot rule out the risk entirely — the virus can get inside with dust, rodents or small birds that find their way into the building.

How to recognise bird flu in poultry

In chickens and turkeys highly pathogenic avian influenza progresses rapidly, and often the first sign is the sudden death of several birds overnight. Owners should also be alert to lethargy and ruffled feathers, refusal of food and water, a sharp drop in egg production, swelling of the head, a bluish comb and wattles, discharge from the beak, difficulty breathing, diarrhoea and loss of coordination.

Avian influenza must be reported to the veterinary authorities. If you suspect it in your birds, do not take them to a vet yourself and do not sell eggs: call the veterinary authority and wait for instructions.

The neighbours are affected too

Denmark is not the only country where the season has begun. In neighbouring Schleswig-Holstein the virus has been confirmed on three farms since 21 October, and the state has imposed mandatory protection measures on all poultry keepers. On 19 October England recorded its first farm outbreak of the season. According to industry summaries for 21–26 October, since the start of 2026 Europe has seen more than 300 outbreaks in domestic poultry in 16 countries and around 2,700 cases in wild birds in 33 countries.

What poultry keepers should do

The authority stresses that keepers themselves can do a great deal to reduce the risk.

If we take protection against infection seriously, together we can reduce the risk of outbreaks.

Mette Kirkeskov Sie, veterinarian, Fødevarestyrelsen

The main rules are simple:

• change your footwear before going in to your birds and keep separate clothes for the poultry house;
• make sure wild birds cannot reach your poultry, its feed or water — feed and water under cover or indoors;
• do not let your birds out to ponds and fields where wild geese and ducks gather;
• do not take in birds or equipment from neighbours while there are outbreaks in the region;
• if birds become lethargic, stop eating or laying, or several die suddenly, tell your vet at once.

If you find a dead wild bird

Bird flu usually passes to humans only with difficulty, but sick, weakened and dead wild birds should not be touched. In Denmark finds of dead wild birds are reported through the FugleinfluenzaTip app — based on these reports, vets decide which finds to test in the laboratory. Other countries have their own hotlines and veterinary reporting forms. If you do touch a bird or its droppings, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

Every report matters. Veterinary services monitor bird flu mainly through finds of dead wild birds: they are the first sign that the virus has arrived in a region, and they make it possible to warn poultry keepers in time.

Is the virus dangerous to people and food?

European authorities assess the risk to the public as low. People catch bird flu very rarely, and almost always through close contact with sick birds, for example when slaughtering or caring for them without protection. Meat and eggs from premises where the virus was found do not go on sale, and properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe. So shoppers in Denmark do not need to change their habits — it is enough to cook poultry thoroughly, as always, and not to taste raw mince.

How to protect your cat and dog

For pets the main risk is contact with a sick or dead bird. Cats are particularly susceptible to H5N1: in Europe there have already been cases of cats falling seriously ill after catching or eating a sick bird. Dogs are infected less often, but it can happen.

• Do not let your dog or cat touch, chew or bring home dead birds.
• Keep your dog on a lead near lakes, the coast and fields with lots of wild birds.
• Do not feed your pets raw poultry meat or offal of unknown origin.
• If there is an outbreak near you, limit your cat's time outdoors where possible.
• If an animal that may have had contact with a bird becomes lethargic, has a high temperature, coughs, struggles to breathe or loses coordination, call your vet immediately and tell the practice about the contact.

What happens next

The bird flu season in northern Europe usually lasts until spring, peaking in autumn and early winter. The authority is monitoring finds in wild birds and will revise its risk assessment if necessary. Poultry keepers in Denmark should follow announcements from Fødevarestyrelsen, which publishes zone maps, rules and new cases. For anyone keeping turkeys and hens in the garden, that means one thing: until spring, keep your birds where they cannot meet wild birds, and call the vet at the slightest sign of illness. For cat and dog owners across Europe, one simple rule is enough in these months: keep your pet away from dead birds.