Israel Reports First Avian Flu Outbreak of 2025–26 Season in Commercial Poultry
Israel confirms its first H5N1 avian flu outbreak of the 2025-26 season in commercial poultry, affecting 2,000 ducks in Moshav Sde Yaakov. A 10km quarantine.
Jerusalem, 5 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture confirmed H5N1 bird flu in a flock of around 2,000 breeding ducks in Moshav Sde Yaakov in northern Israel following unusual mortality among the birds — the first commercial poultry outbreak of the 2025–2026 season.
A 10-kilometer quarantine zone has been imposed around the farm, restricting poultry movements and enforcing strict biosafety measures. The ministry urges owners of backyard, ornamental, and free-range birds to keep them indoors and advises the public to consume only properly labeled and thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs.
Last year, 16 outbreaks were recorded across Israel.
