Bird flu outbreak triggers emergency response in Norwegian coastal town

A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed in Tvedestrand, southern Norway, after several dead swans tested positive for the highly contagious virus, Dagbladet reports. Authorities are now culling sick birds and urging the public to avoid contact with dead or dying wildlife in the harbour area.

Six dead birds have been found in the town over the past week, with samples from one swan confirming infection with a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza, according to Norway’s Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet). The virus can kill up to 100% of a flock and poses a low but present risk of transmission to humans through close contact with infected birds.

Tvedestrand’s municipal director, Jan Magne Kåsa Stensrud, told Dagbladet that emergency meetings were held Monday to assess the situation. “We will be culling sick birds in coordination with police,” he stated, adding that residents and visitors should report dead birds to a dedicated hotline but avoid touching them. While the harbour remains open to the public, workers handling carcasses will wear protective gear as a precaution.

Large flocks of swans and ducks have long congregated in Tvedestrand’s inner harbour, a pattern local officials acknowledge is difficult to change. “They have wings. Good luck trying to remove them,” Kåsa Stensrud said, noting that the birds favour specific habitats. Veterinarians have observed sick birds swimming in circles or hanging limp in the water—behaviour that warrants euthanasia to curb the spread.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) emphasises that while avian influenza primarily affects birds, human infections can occur through direct contact with sick or dead animals. Symptoms in birds include neurological impairment, swelling, and sudden death.