Reports of bird flu cases across Europe rose in the final quarter of 2024, though numbers remain lower than in previous years, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The authority also acknowledged higher cases in the US, where cattle had been infected.

In late December, Californian dairy farmers reported 71% of herds had caught the avian-born virus H5N1 since late August.

The US’s Food and Drug Administration has since begun testing cheese, made using raw cow’s milk, for the virus.

How many bird flu cases reported in Europe?

“New outbreaks in wild and domestic birds were reported in Europe and around the world between September and December 2024,” EFSA said.

Some 657 cases of avian influenza were recorded in Europe between 21 September and 6 December last year – 341 in domestic birds and 316 in wild, across 27 European countries.

No new cases within mammals were reported in Europe for the period, according to EFSA.

Cases of bird flu were reported at an East Yorkshire poultry farm in the UK this week.

Is bird flu a risk to humans?

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed all birds at the farm would be killed. A two-mile protection zone and an eight-mile surveillance zone were in place to restrict the movement of birds, meat and eggs in the area.

The health authorities continue to play down the risk to public health, stating it is a low risk to those not working closely or having close contact with poultry.

Cases of infections in humans have, however, risen. Farm workers in the States have been advised to take precautions, such as getting a flu vaccine.

“This is because it can reduce the prevalence and severity of seasonal flu and might reduce the very rare risk of co-infection with a human seasonal virus and avian virus at the same time, and the theoretical risk that re-assortment between the two could result in a new virus,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.