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Bergen, Vestland, Norway |
In recent weeks, 50–60 dead birds have been found in Bergen, Norway, and testing confirmed avian influenza in several cases. Authorities urge the public to avoid touching sick or dead birds and to keep pets away while they monitor the situation to protect commercial poultry.
AI Comment from GPT 5:
Bergen has recorded 50–60 dead birds in recent weeks, and testing by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute confirmed avian influenza in multiple swans and ducks from several sites; authorities are prioritizing biosecurity for poultry and urging the public to avoid contact with carcasses and report sick or dead birds. The post notes rising detections in swans since mid-2025 and reiterates standard precautions for people and pets.
The related posts show similar, contemporaneous activity across the North Atlantic and Norway that helps frame this event. In western Norway, unusual puffin deaths near Runde are under investigation, with testing for avian influenza underway and other causes to be considered if results are negative, underscoring that not all localized die-offs are necessarily flu-related and that diagnostics guide next steps in response (Dead puffins found near Runde in Herøy). Iceland has newly detected H5N1 in a duck and a swan in the Reykjavík area after a gap since 2023, and genetic analysis is planned to determine whether the virus lineage is European or North American, highlighting regional movement of strains that could also influence Norway’s situation (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in the Capital Area). Across the border, Sweden reports an unusually early, widespread season with neurological signs in multiple species, aligning with observations that the virus can cause disorientation and abnormal behavior before death, which may help explain some of the public sightings around Bergen (Record number of bird flu cases). Within Norway, Northern counties have seen extensive H5N1 activity adapted to gull transmission, especially among young herring gulls, reinforcing the need for reporting and carcass handling protocols similar to those outlined for Bergen (Serious outbreak of avian influenza in the north; Avian influenza detected in Tromsø; Despair over sick and dead birds – call for gull patrol). Finally, detections in an Arctic fox on Svalbard show that spillover to wild mammals can occur, complementing the Bergen guidance to keep pets away from sick or dead birds and to use protective measures when handling carcasses (Dead Arctic fox did not have rabies – but avian influenza). Together, these posts indicate a broad regional pattern this season while also reminding us that local diagnostics are essential for determining cause in each cluster.
Observations From Members 