Poland Battles Multiple Farm Animal Disease Outbreaks in September 2025

Warsaw, September 2025 – Poland is facing a difficult month for animal health, with confirmed outbreaks of avian influenza, African swine fever (ASF), and bluetongue disease hitting different regions of the country. Veterinary authorities have imposed restrictions and culling measures, while international bodies have been notified of the situation.

Avian Influenza in the North

On September 22, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in the Warmian-Masurian province near Susz. Around 4,000 birds died across goose and turkey farms. The Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (GLW) subsequently recorded the outbreaks as numbers 86 and 87 of the year, officially noting the loss of Poland’s HPAI-free status. Local authorities established protection zones, ordered culling, and banned the movement of poultry in affected areas.

African Swine Fever in Pigs and Wild Boar

ASF continues to spread in eastern Poland. In early September, GLW confirmed outbreak #16 in domestic pigs, followed shortly after by outbreak #17 in Szychowice, Lublin region. Provincial veterinary offices issued updates through September 8, warning of further risks. International monitoring also indicates that Poland remains the European hotspot for ASF in 2025: the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) reported that by September 10, Poland had recorded the majority of new outbreaks across the continent, with cases found both in domestic pigs and in wild boar populations.

Bluetongue Spreads to Cattle Herds

Lower Silesia and Greater Poland provinces have reported the latest cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3). The fifth outbreak of 2025 was confirmed in Zgorzelec county on September 15, followed by a sixth case announced by GLW on September 24. Regional agricultural media reported new protection and surveillance zones, raising concerns among cattle farmers about trade restrictions and livestock losses.

A Challenging Outlook

With poultry, pigs, and cattle all affected by different pathogens in a single month, Poland’s veterinary services face a major challenge. The overlapping outbreaks are likely to impact trade, increase costs for biosecurity, and raise concern among farmers as the autumn season progresses. Authorities continue to coordinate closely with European partners to contain the spread.

Sources:
Reuters – Poland confirms bird flu outbreak on two farms, WOAH says (Sep 22, 2025)
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-confirms-bird-flu-outbreak-two-farms-woah-says-2025-09-22/

The Poultry Site – Poland confirms bird flu outbreaks in geese, turkeys (Sep 23, 2025)
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2025/09/poland-confirms-bird-flu-outbreaks-in-geese-turkeys

GLW – Official notice on HPAI outbreak #86 & #87 (Sep 23–24, 2025)
https://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/nadzor-weterynaryjny/hpai-2025

Interia – Ptaka grypa w Suszu – ogniska i działania władz (Sep 23, 2025)
https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/wiadomosci-lokalne/news-grypa-ptakow-susz-woj-warminsko-mazurskie-2025

GLW – ASF outbreak #16 in pigs (Sep 3, 2025)
https://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/nadzor-weterynaryjny/asf-2025

GLW – ASF outbreak #17 in pigs, Szychowice (Sep 5, 2025)
https://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/nadzor-weterynaryjny/asf-2025

Provincial Vet Inspectorate Zielona Góra – ASF status report (Sep 8, 2025)
https://wiwzgora.pl/aktualnosci/asf-raport-2025-09-08

EuroMeatNews – Europe reports ASF outbreaks, Poland hardest hit (Sep 26, 2025)
https://euromeatnews.com/Article-Europe-reports-ASF-outbreaks-Poland-hardest-hit/6939

AgroPolska – Niebieski język (BTV-3) w powiecie zgorzeleckim, piąte ognisko (Sep 15, 2025)
https://agropolska.pl/wiadomosci/zdrowie-zwierzat/niebieski-jezyk-btv3-piate-ognisko-w-polsce

GLW – Bluetongue outbreak #6 (Sep 24, 2025)
https://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/nadzor-weterynaryjny/niebieski-jezyk-2025

Wieści Rolnicze – Szóste ognisko niebieskiego języka w Wielkopolsce (Sep 24, 2025)
https://wiescirolnicze.pl/wiadomosci/choroby-zwierzat/niebieski-jezyk-6-ognisko-wielkopolska