Avian influenza (bird flu) has been detected in a dairy cow in the Netherlands, marking the first time bird flu has been confirmed in cattle in Europe.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, antibodies against bird flu were found in a cow on a farm in Friesland.

The ministry said the cow had symptoms in December, but the animal has since recovered.

No virus was found in the cow's milk, but antibodies against the bird flu virus were detected. This indicates the animal was exposed to the virus, the ministry said.

This is the first time that researchers in the Netherlands, and in Europe, have confirmed bird flu in a cow. Bird flu has been detected across multiple states in the US since early 2024.

Bird flu

In a statement, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture said that no evidence of active viral circulation of bird flu among the dairy cows on the impacted farm has been found.

There are also no signs of avian influenza spreading to other dairy farms.

On December 24, 2025, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) received a report of two sick cats. One of these cats tested positive for bird flu and died two days later.

The authority launched an investigation which revealed that the cat came from a dairy farm.

On January 15, the dairy cattle on that farm were screened with a random sample. There were no sick animals present at that time.

Analysis of the milk samples by Wageningen Bioveterinary Research revealed that no active virus was present.

"The presence of antibodies was also tested, which were found in the milk samples from one cow. This indicates a previous infection with the virus in that cow," the ministry said.

Cow

The NVWA visited the farm again on January 22 where blood and milk samples were taken from all cattle present. These showed that there was no avian influenza virus on the farm.

The ministry said that results of the antibody tests are expected next week which will indicate if more animals have come into contact with the virus.

Other mammals on the farm, such as dogs, cats, and horses, are currently and have not shown any symptoms.

People working on the farm and the vet are being tested by the Municipal Health Service (GGD).

"As far as we know, antibodies against avian influenza have not previously been demonstrated in dairy cattle in Europe. However, there have been numerous avian influenza outbreaks among dairy cattle in the US.

"Individual infection of a dairy cow with the avian influenza virus can occur. It is important to know whether this leads to spread within and between farms. There is no evidence that this has occurred," the ministry said.

Milk

The ministry said that the risk of humans getting sick from bird flu is very low, adding that close contact with sick animals is required for transmission.

It said that cow's milk in the Netherlands is always pasteurised with this heating process making drinking milk safe.

The milk from the previously infected cow has not been processed for human consumption due to existing mastitis.

"The risk of humans contracting avian influenza by eating chicken, eggs, or beef, or through dairy products, is also very small," the ministry said.

"The bird flu situation in the Netherlands remains worrisome. The situation is being closely monitored, and all stakeholders have been asked to remain alert for any potential signs," it added.

Wageningen University and Research, which tested the samples from the farm, said that the current situation in the Netherlands is not comparable to that in the US, "because no virus particles have been found so far in the milk or in the animal itself in Dutch dairy cattle".

"In cases of avian influenza infection in dairy cows in the US, virus particles were detected in the milk of infected cattle. This means the animals were shedding the virus," the university said in a statement.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon recently confirmed that Ireland has been declared free from bird flu.

The minister said that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Ireland's self-declaration of freedom from the disease on its website, with an effective date of January 1.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has not been detected in Ireland in wild birds or domestic poultry in 2026 to date.