Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Found in Seven Wild Birds in Latvia in October
Latvia's Food and Veterinary Service reports that highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in seven wild birds in October. Since the start of the year, the disease has been found in 12 of 71 tested wild birds.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in seven wild birds in Latvia in October, according to information published by the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD). The PVD is a state institution under the Ministry of Agriculture that supervises and controls food circulation and veterinary medicine.
October results
Nine wild birds were tested in October. Two tufted ducks...
Two birds identified in the source as "baltvēderi" and one mallard were found to carry the H5N1 subtype. Two more "baltvēderi", one shoveler and one teal had the H5 subtype.
The year so far
In the first ten months of the year, 71 wild birds were tested and avian influenza was found in 12. In January, five birds were tested and four were positive: two mallards and a whooper swan carried H5N1, while one mallard had H5N2. In June, the disease was found in one white-tailed eagle. In September, one mallard was found with H4N6, a low-pathogenic subtype.
Last year, 95 wild birds were examined in Latvia and influenza was found in 30 cases. Highly pathogenic influenza was detected in 22 whooper swans, four mute swans, three mallards and one swan of an unspecified species. One crane had the H6N8 subtype and one herring gull the H16N3 subtype, both low-pathogenic.
H5N1 outbreaks in 2025 were recorded at a poultry holding in Birzgale parish, Ogre municipality (98 chickens), a household farm in Durbe parish, South Kurzeme municipality (93 birds), and a household farm in Jaunpils parish, Tukums municipality (50 chickens).
About the disease
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is an acute, highly contagious bird disease with high mortality. Wild birds, especially waterfowl, are the natural reservoir and spreaders of the virus, and may show no typical signs of illness. Poultry can be infected through contact with infected wild birds and their droppings, or via contaminated water, feed or items such as footwear, clothing and equipment.
