EFSA urges vigilance as bird flu in US dairy herds prompts Europe alert

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has assessed the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza spreading from US dairy cattle to Europe as “very low,” but warns the potential impact could be significant if the virus arrives.

In an opinion published on December 16, EFSA says preparedness measures, including heightened surveillance and strict biosecurity protocols, are essential, as the H5N1 genotype currently affecting US dairy herds continues to spread across American farms.

“The likelihood of the strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza found in US dairy cows reaching Europe is very low,” EFSA states. “However, EFSA’s experts conclude that should the virus arrive, the impact on EU countries could be significant.”

The assessment focuses specifically on the H5N1 genotype B3.13 virus circulating in US dairy cattle and outlines mitigation measures to prevent its introduction to European farms. 

These include potential trade restrictions from affected regions, thorough cleaning of milking equipment, restricting cattle movement in affected areas, and avoiding the exchange of workers, vehicles, and equipment between farms.

EFSA emphasizes that thermal treatment, such as pasteurization, is “highly effective at reducing the virus in milk and milk products,” while the primary consumer exposure route would be through raw milk, raw colostrum, or raw milk cream. Importantly, there have been no reported cases of foodborne human infection with this specific genotype to date.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that H5 bird flu is “widespread in wild birds worldwide and causing outbreaks in poultry and US dairy cows, with several recent human cases in US dairy and poultry workers.” 

CDC maintains that “while the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.”

Rising bird flu concerns 

The EFSA opinion follows a year of intensifying bird flu concerns. In February, Food Ingredients First reported that the US government allocated US$1 billion to combat HPAI, protect the poultry industry, and address soaring egg prices, which were predicted to rise more than 40% in 2025. The investment targeted biosecurity measures, vaccine development, and limiting the depopulation of egg-laying chickens.

This development contributed to existing political tension, with the US Department of Justice investigating whether major egg producers were colluding to keep prices high as the average cost for a dozen eggs rose more than 60% year-on-year. More than 150 million birds have reportedly been affected by avian flu since February 2022.

European surveillance has also intensified. In November, EFSA reported 1,443 detections of HPAI A(H5) virus in wild birds across 26 European countries between September 6 and November 14 — four times higher than the same period in 2024 and the highest level since at least 2016.

The latest EFSA opinion builds on a July 2025 scientific report analyzing the US situation, which identified seasonal bird migration and imports of products containing raw milk as potential routes for introducing the virus to Europe.

EFSA recommends raising awareness among farmers and veterinarians, along with strengthening surveillance systems for early detection. The measures outlined would also help contain other HPAI strains already present in Europe.