Bird flu detected in Joensuu urban area

A dead barnacle goose found in Joensuu on May 29 tested positive for avian influenza, the Finnish Food Authority confirmed.

The bird was discovered by a passerby, who took it to a veterinarian. This is the first case of bird flu in North Karelia since 2021, when four dead birds with the virus were found in Kitee and Tohmajärvi.

Nationwide, the Finnish Food Authority has recorded 17 cases of avian influenza in birds this year, all previously in southern and southwestern Finland.

The risk to humans is low, as the virus does not spread easily to people. Poultry meat and eggs remain safe to consume. Authorities advise against touching dead or sick birds and keeping pets away from them. Any mass deaths or illnesses in birds should be reported to the authorities.