Austria Declared High-Risk Zone for Avian Influenza, New Measures Implemented

Austria has now been classified as a high-risk zone for avian influenza, also known as bird flu, by the Austrian Health Ministry. This designation follows a recent bird flu outbreak in Lower Austria’s Amstetten district, resulting in the culling of approximately 18,000 birds to control the virus’s spread.

With new, stricter safety protocols beginning early Friday, the Austrian military will assist by disposing of infected birds and disinfecting transport vehicles, including trucks and containers. Authorities have established a protective perimeter within a three-kilometer radius around the affected farms, while veterinarians monitor and inspect around 78 farms within this protected zone to prevent any further spread of avian influenza.

Additionally, a secondary surveillance area, spanning a 10-kilometer radius around the outbreak, will remain under heightened observation for the next 30 days. Beyond Amstetten, 25 districts across Austria’s Lower and Upper Austria, Styria, Salzburg, Carinthia, and Burgenland regions are now classified as regions with elevated risk. Farms housing more than 50 animals in these areas are required to keep livestock indoors as a precaution.

Susanne Rosenkranz, a key state official responsible for labor, animal welfare, consumer protection, and nature conservation, stated that Lower Austria had already classified certain districts as high-risk zones, mandating indoor housing for animals to reduce exposure to wild birds. With federal measures underway, Rosenkranz highlighted the government’s commitment to protect Austrian livestock from the virus.

With the increased risk, feeding animals outdoors is now prohibited nationwide, and contact between poultry and wild birds must be restricted through nets or covered enclosures. Recent cases identified in four additional farms with over 200,000 animals underscore the need for these stringent measures.

The recent outbreak has also seen a rise in infections among wild birds across Austria. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, which also oversees animal welfare, has emphasized the importance of broad containment measures to prevent the virus’s spread throughout the country. Although the initial source of infection remains uncertain, it is believed that wild birds and domestic poultry first showed signs of the virus in September, around the time of severe flooding that affected several areas of Lower Austria.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus affecting mainly poultry and waterfowl. The virus can be classified as either high pathogenic (HPAI) or low pathogenic (LPAI) based on its severity. HPAI poses significant risks to domestic poultry, often resulting in high mortality rates and rapidly devastating entire flocks. In contrast, LPAI strains may cause minimal to no symptoms in infected birds. While bird-to-human transmission is rare, it poses a risk to those in close contact with infected animals and contaminated areas.

Earlier this year, in July, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority urged member states to increase vigilance due to the ongoing risk posed by bird migrations. Although cases in Europe had declined during the summer, the seasonal migration patterns of wild birds can carry the virus over large areas, potentially affecting both wild and domestic birds.