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After a long winter in which bird flu once again circulated on a large scale among wild birds in and around the Netherlands, spring has now arrived. This means that many overwintering waterfowl are making way for returning summer visitors. Will bird flu outbreaks soon decline as a result, or should we fear

The West Nile virus (WNV) has been found in dead wild birds for the first time in the Netherlands during the 2025 incident study (2/115; 1.7%). The two positive birds were both Western Jackdaws (2/6): one from Rijswijk and one from Tilburg (province of North Brabant), which were found dead in August and

In August 2025, many sick and dead doves were reported to the DWHC from Groningen. During our examination, we found Newcastle Disease (NCD) in two of the doves. Subsequently, we

The DWHC focus species of 2026 are the wild rabbit and hare. This means we’re devoting extra attention to researching these species this year. We hope to study more of these animals to gain a clear overview of the diseases circulating among wild rabbits and hares in the Netherlands. Several diseases occur in both

From March 2024 to August 2025, the DWHC, together with the WBVR, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LVVN), tested a total of 50 foxes from the province of Friesland for avian influenza (bird flu). This research is being conducted to develop an effective surveillance program for

As part of the Strong1Health project, wild mammals are being tested for bird flu. Between November 2025 and June 2026, the aim is to test as many dead carnivores and scavenging mammals as possible for infection with the bird flu virus and antibodies against the

In late September, a Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) was found in National Park De Hoge Veluwe. The animal laid on the ground and stayed there even when a person approached closer. Eventually the deer was shot and killed. The person who reported the animal to us, a game warden for the area, explains how they discovered

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) have been the DWHC focal bird species of 2025. The aim was to be able to examine more of these species to determine their cause of death and underlying disease. Common Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey that sit high in

Since August 2025, we have been getting many reports of sick and dead pigeons from Groningen. Commonly reported symptoms include lethargy, lying on the side or back, sometimes with their head tilted far back or spinning around. It is also reported that the animals are very passive and respond little even when

The outbreak of bird flu in wild birds is still ongoing, resulting in increased mortality among wild birds. Updates on the outbreak in the Netherlands can be followed via our monthly overview of bird flu tests page, and at the European level,