{"id":30696,"date":"2026-01-06T14:00:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/?page_id=30696"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:59:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:59:22","slug":"monthly-overview-bird-flu-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/monthly-overview-bird-flu-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Monthly overview bird flu 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The outbreak of avian influenza among wild birds that began in November 2024 has continued in 2025. In 2026 we keep closely following this outbreak. The DWHC is working together with Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) in the research on avian influenza. The DWHC regularly receives reports of dead wild birds. Some of these birds were suitable for research and were collected and tested for infection with avian influenza at the WBVR. On this page you can follow the latest updates on avian influenza test results in 2026 per month. Click here<\/a> for the monthly overview of bird flu tests in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 2026<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In January, the DWHC sent 82 dead wild birds to the WBVR for avian influenza testing. Of these birds, 40 tested positive: 24 ducks, geese, and swans; 8 other waterbirds; and 8 birds of prey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In January, avian influenza was found in poultry farms in the provinces of Drenthe, Flevoland, Gelderland, North-Brabant, and South-Holland. The national government has taken various measures against avian influenza. A nationwide indoor and outdoor screening requirement<\/a> has been in effect in the Netherlands since October 16th 2025. In the event of a bird flu outbreak in poultry, the government imposes a transport ban to prevent the spread of the virus. Click here<\/a> for a current overview of the areas where a transport ban is in effect. It is not possible for the DWHC to collect wild birds from these areas for research. For more information about avian influenza in captive animals, visit the Dutch government website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Figure: results of all birds tested for avian influenza in January 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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 Table: all birds tested for infection with avian influenza virus in January 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Distribution map of wild birds tested for bird flu in January 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Distribution map of reports of dead wild birds in the Netherlands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The DWHC, together with Sovon<\/a>, Waarneming.nl<\/a>, and the Bird Flu App<\/a>, monitors where dead wild birds have been found in the Netherlands. The focus is mainly on bird species at risk for avian influenza, but other bird species are also included. The map below provides a national overview of bird mortality in January 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Erasmus MC has found 27 positive test results in January (see table below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bird species<\/strong><\/td>Location<\/strong><\/td>Province<\/strong><\/td>Status (alive\/dead)<\/strong><\/td>Sampling date<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Mallard<\/td>Zwaagdijk<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>1-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian Teal<\/td>Zwaagdijk<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>9-1-2026<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian wigeon<\/td>Hippolytushoef<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>11-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Mallard<\/td>Lithse<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>14-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Mallard<\/td>Hippolytushoef<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>14-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Mallard<\/td>Hippolytushoef<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>14-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
European Herring Gull<\/td>Groningen<\/td>Groningen<\/td>Alive<\/td>17-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian Teal<\/td>Asten<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>17-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
European Herring Gull<\/td>Waddenhaven<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>18-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Mallard<\/td>Lithse<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>19-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Rhoon van Buijtenland<\/td>South-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>20-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greylag Goose<\/td>Rhoon van Buijtenland<\/td>South-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>20-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Strijen<\/td>South-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>23-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Mallard<\/td>Hippolytushoef<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>20-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Black-headed Gull<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Common Gull<\/td>Enkhuizen<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>22-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian wigeon<\/td>Hippolytushoef<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>25-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian wigeon<\/td>Stolwijk<\/td>South-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>25-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian wigeon<\/td>Stolwijk<\/td>South-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>25-1-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian Teal<\/td>Zwaagdijk<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>28-1-2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 2026<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In February, the DWHC sent 74 dead wild birds to the WBVR for avian influenza testing. One bird is still being examined. Up until now, 29 tests came back positive: 14 ducks, geese, and swans; 7 other waterbirds; and 8 birds of prey. This page will be updated as soon as the last test result is in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February, avian influenza was found in poultry farms in the provinces of North-Brabant, Gelderland, and Groningen. The national government has taken various measures against avian influenza. A nationwide indoor and outdoor screening requirement<\/a> has been in effect in the Netherlands since October 16th 2025. In the event of a bird flu outbreak in poultry, the government imposes a transport ban to prevent the spread of the virus. Click here<\/a> for a current overview of the areas where a transport ban is in effect. It is not possible for the DWHC to collect wild birds from these areas for research. For more information about avian influenza in captive animals, visit the Dutch government website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Figure: results of all birds tested for avian influenza in February 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Table: birds collected for avian influenza testing in February 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Distribution map of wild birds tested for bird flu in February 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Distribution map of reports of dead wild birds in the Netherlands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The DWHC, together with Sovon<\/a>, Waarneming.nl<\/a>, and the Bird Flu App<\/a>, monitors where dead wild birds have been found in the Netherlands. The focus is mainly on bird species at risk for avian influenza, but other bird species are also included. The map below provides a national overview of bird mortality in February 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Erasmus MC has found the following positive test results in February:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bird species<\/strong><\/td>Location<\/strong><\/td>Province<\/strong><\/td>Status (alive\/dead)<\/strong><\/td>Sampling date<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Common Gull<\/td>Waddenkust<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>1-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Yellow-legged Gull<\/td>Groningen<\/td>Groningen<\/td>Alive<\/td>1-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
European Herring Gull<\/td>Slootdorp<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Sick<\/td>17-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Common Gull<\/td>Zuiderdijk<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>17-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Zuiderdijk<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>17-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Zuiderdijk<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>17-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Mallard<\/td>Zwaagdijk-Oost<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Alive<\/td>19-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Eurasian Curlew<\/td>Hippolytushoef<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>19-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Hippolytushoef<\/td>North-Holland<\/td>Dead<\/td>19-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Common Buzzard<\/td>Someren<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Dead<\/td>11-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>12-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>12-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>12-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>12-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>12-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>12-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>14-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>14-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>14-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Greater White-fronted Goose<\/td>Maren-Kessel<\/td>North-Brabant<\/td>Alive<\/td>14-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Caspian Gull<\/td>Almere<\/td>Flevoland<\/td>Alive<\/td>20-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Caspian Gull<\/td>Almere<\/td>Flevoland<\/td>Alive<\/td>20-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Barnacle Goose<\/td>Groningen<\/td>Groningen<\/td>Dead<\/td>24-2-2026<\/td><\/tr>
Ruddy Turnstone<\/td>Schiermonnikoog<\/td>Friesland<\/td>Alive<\/td>25-2-2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 2026<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the month of March, the DWHC sent 46 dead wild birds to the WBVR for avian influenza testing. Many birds are still being examined. So far, 9 birds have tested positive: a Greater Canada Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese, and 6 Mute Swans. This page will be updated as soon new as test results are in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the month of March, avian influenza was found in poultry farms in the provinces of Gelderland and Drenthe. The national government has taken various measures against avian influenza. A\u00a0nationwide indoor and outdoor screening requirement<\/a>\u00a0has been in effect in the Netherlands since October 16th 2025. In the event of a bird flu outbreak in poultry, the government imposes a transport ban to prevent the spread of the virus.\u00a0Click here<\/a>\u00a0for a current overview of the areas where a transport ban is in effect. It is not possible for the DWHC to collect wild birds from these areas for research. For more information about avian influenza in captive animals, visit\u00a0the Dutch government website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Figure: results of all birds tested for avian influenza in March<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Table: birds collected for avian influenza testing in March<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Distribution map of wild birds tested for bird flu in March 2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The outbreak of avian influenza among wild birds that began in November 2024 has continued in 2025. In 2026 we keep closely following this outbreak. The DWHC is working together with Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) in the research on avian influenza. The DWHC regularly receives reports of dead wild birds. Some of these birds were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23295,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-30696","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30696"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30696\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33957,"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30696\/revisions\/33957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwhc.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}