07 November 2026
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) has officially raised the threat level for the introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) into domestic poultry holdings from Medium to High, effective November 4, 2026. As a direct regulatory consequence, mandatory nationwide confinement and covering orders take effect on November 9, 2026, requiring all poultry and captive birds to be housed indoors or kept under solid or netted roof enclosures.
The escalation follows substantial surveillance data showing intensive viral circulation fueled by seasonal autumn wild bird migrations through northern Europe.
Between September 7 and November 4, 2026, passive surveillance across Denmark identified 38 HPAI-positive birds out of 52 carcasses submitted for testing, alongside 11 positive detections via active hunter surveillance. In total, Denmark reported 16 wild bird HPAI outbreaks involving 52 birds to the EU’s Animal Disease Information System (ADIS), placing Denmark alongside the Netherlands (19 outbreaks) as western Europe’s most active epicenters.
Three commercial poultry outbreaks were confirmed in Denmark during this period, all localized in staging zones along primary migratory corridors.
