The European Commission presents three response scenarios for avian flu, ranging from animal outbreaks to sustained human-to-human transmission

The One Health framework shows how veterinary, health and environmental authorities can coordinate the response to zoonotic avian influenza. ECDC assesses the risk associated with A(H5N1) viruses circulating in Europe as low for the general population and low to moderate for exposed persons.

On 11 November 2026, the European Commission published a common framework for preventing and managing avian influenza that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The document describes three scenarios: outbreaks in animals, sporadic human cases or limited human-to-human transmission, and sustained human-to-human transmission. In each situation, veterinary, public health and environmental authorities should coordinate their risk assessment and response.

In brief

1.The One Health framework brings together existing EU measures and explains how authorities can apply them as the situation evolves.

2.In the event of outbreaks in animals, authorities apply veterinary measures and assess the risk to exposed persons. In the case of sporadic human infections or limited transmission, they investigate cases and monitor contacts as necessary.

3.Sustained human-to-human transmission would require an expanded public health response and, if the situation demands it, activation of pandemic mechanisms. This is a preparedness scenario.

4.The European surveillance report recorded 7,000 detections in wild birds in 34 countries between 1 October 2025 and 28 August 2026. On 9 November, ECDC maintained its risk assessment as low for the general population in the EU and EEA.

5.The Commission proposes closer cooperation in four areas: institutional coordination, joint surveillance, biosecurity and worker protection, as well as risk communication.The Commission has grouped the existing measures into a single document so that veterinary and health services know how to act together. For outbreaks in species already covered by veterinary legislation, the framework describes the application of existing measures and the assessment of human exposure. For species that are not listed, it recommends investigating the outbreak and selecting veterinary, public health and food safety measures according to risk.

In the case of sporadic human infections or limited human-to-human transmission, the response involves investigating cases, tracing contacts as necessary and intensifying cooperation with veterinary services. The Commission indicates that human cases of animal-origin influenza should be reported within 24 hours through the European Early Warning and Response System (EWRS). In the scenario of sustained human-to-human transmission, authorities would expand the response and activate pandemic mechanisms depending on the situation.

The joint report by EFSA, ECDC and the EU reference laboratory records 7,000 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds from 34 European countries between 1 October 2025 and 28 August 2026. This is the highest total in wild birds in the series presented in the report, which begins in October 2019. In its 9 November update, ECDC assessed the risk in the EU and EEA as low for the general public and low to moderate for people exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.

The Commission coordinates cooperation with the Member States. ECDC assesses risks to human health, EFSA contributes expertise on animal health and food safety, and the European Medicines Agency provides expertise on vaccines and medicines. The framework proposes closer cooperation between laboratories and joint risk assessments.

Regarding exposed workers, the Commission recommends strengthening biosecurity and discussing vaccination based on national assessments. An ECDC survey published on 7 October shows that, among the 27 EU and EEA countries that responded, eight had national vaccination recommendations against zoonotic influenza A(H5), another eight were preparing them, and 11 had no plans at the time of the survey. Five countries had begun vaccination campaigns. The framework also proposes coordinated messages tailored to the level of risk and the people they target.