The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) announced on Tuesday that Iraq has reported a severe outbreak of the highly contagious H5N1 strain of avian influenza in poultry flocks in Bashiqa, Nineveh province.

According to a report from the Iraqi government cited by the Paris-based organization, the outbreak has resulted in the deaths of 12,000 birds, raising concerns about the spread of the deadly virus in the region.

The H5N1 strain, known for its high pathogenicity and potential to devastate poultry populations, has also been reported in neighboring Iran earlier this month, according to Sky News Arabia. In response to the regional threat, the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture swiftly imposed a comprehensive ban on poultry imports last Thursday. The ban prohibits the import of all types of live and frozen poultry, eggs, and other poultry products from several countries, including Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that the ministry’s veterinary section has ramped up preventive measures, deploying specialized teams to monitor and contain the outbreak. These efforts include enhanced surveillance of poultry farms, stricter biosecurity protocols, and public awareness campaigns to prevent further spread of the virus. The ministry has also urged farmers to report any unusual bird deaths immediately to curb the risk of wider contamination.

Recent updates indicate that Iraqi authorities are collaborating with international health organizations to assess the situation and implement containment strategies. WOAH has emphasized the importance of rapid response measures, including culling infected flocks and disinfecting affected areas, to prevent the virus from spreading to other regions or potentially jumping to humans, as H5N1 has been known to do in rare cases.

The outbreak comes amid heightened global concern over avian influenza, with multiple countries reporting cases in 2025. Experts warn that the virus’s spread could disrupt poultry industries and pose risks to food security in affected regions. Iraqi officials have assured the public that the situation is under control but are maintaining strict import restrictions and monitoring to safeguard both the agricultural sector and public health.

For further information on Iraq’s import restrictions and avian influenza updates, visit the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture’s official website or WOAH’s global disease monitoring platform. (ILKHA)