The virus is infecting more and more wild birds. For rare species that are already fighting for survival, the pathogen could mean the final end.
Red everywhere you look: A look at the digital map of Europe from the “Bird flux radars” from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is enough to understand the seriousness of the situation. The early warning system for bird flu outbreaks has been indicating extreme risks for large parts of Europe for months. 37 countries have been affected by the outbreak since the current wave began in 2021 of avian influenza. The virus is also raging on other continents. Scientists are already classifying the infection as a “panzootia” – a pandemic in the animal kingdom.