According to USDA-GAIN report DA2020-0015 released on November 19th, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration reported an outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza in a flock of 25,000 commercial layers.  The farm is located near the city of Randers on the Island of East Jutland.

As with a number of outbreaks in Western Europe, H5N85N8 AI virus was isolated from a wild bird, in this case a peregrine falcon, prior to a commercial outbreak.  It is presumed that the falcon was infected through contact with migratory waterfowl or other free-living birds.  On November 10th poultry producers in Denmark were advised to confine their flocks.

The infected commercial flock was depleted, and surveillance was initiated in accordance with the requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). 

It is anticipated that nations importing poultry products from Denmark will impose embargoes that may involve the affected region or depending on policy, the entire exporting nation.  Denmark is a supplier of processed chicken to the Republic of South Africa, South Korea and Singapore in addition to neighboring EU nations.