Annual Reports of Animal Health in Denmark 2024

The report presents statistical information and an overview of disease surveillance in Denmark in 2024 for listed diseases.

The data for Animal Health in Denmark is no longer available as a report in PDF format. Instead, data for 2024 are presented below in tables or as link to WAHIS six-montly reports.

The WAHIS six-monthly report provides an overview of animal health events reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). It summarizes outbreaks, disease occurrences, and surveillance activities over a six-month period per country for terrestrial and aquatic animals.

WAHIS six monthly reports 2024

 

Here you can view the six-monthly report for first and second semester 2024 on the notification of listed diseases, infections and infestations for terrestrial and aquatic animals in Denmark

The six-monthly report for terestrial animals - first semester 2024 (pdf)

The six-monthly report for terestrial animals - second semester 2024 (pdf)

Here you can view the six-monthly report for first and second semester 2024 on the notification of listed diseases, infections and infestations for aquatic animals in Denmark

The six-monthly report for aquatic animals - first semester 2024 (pdf)

The six-monthly report for aquatic animals - second semester 2024 (pdf)

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed diseases in Denmark

 

Here you can see the year of the latest occurence of WOAH-listed diseases in Denmark

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed multiple-species diseases in Denmark - updated 2024

Disease Latest occurrence
Anthrax 1988
Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever1 Never reported
Equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern) Never reported
Heartwater1 Never reported
Infection with Aujeszky’s disease virus 1991
Infection with bluetongue virus 2024
Infection with Brucella abortus Cattle: 1962
Infection with Brucella suis Pigs: 1999
Infection with Brucella melitensis Sheep and goats: never reported
Infection with Echinococcus granulosus Not reported2
Infection with Echinococcus multilocularis 20243
Infection with epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus Never reported
Infection with foot and mouth disease virus 1983
Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex 1994
Infection with rabies virus 19824
Infection with Rift Valley fever virus Never reported
Infection with rinderpest virus 1782
Infection with Trichinella spp. 2024 (ræv)
Japanese encephalitis Never reported
New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax)1 Never reported
Old World screwworm (Chrysomya bezziana)1 Never reported
Paratuberculosis Disease present5
Q fever Disease present
Surra Never reported
Tularaemia 20246 
West Nile fever Never reported

 1 The disease is not notifiable in Denmark.

2 Year of latest outbreak not known.

3 Detected in wildlife (red fox).

4 Infection with classical rabies virus in domestic animals.

5 The disease is not officially controlled in Denmark; however, the cattle industry runs a voluntary control programme.

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed cattle diseases in Denmark

Disease Latest occurrence
Bovine anaplasmosis Never reported
Bovine babesiosis1 Suspected, but not confirmed
Bovine genital campylobacteriosis 1995
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy 2009
Bovine viral diarrhoea 2019
Enzootic bovine leukosis 1990
Haemorrhagic septicaemia1 Never reported
Infection with lumpy skin disease virus Never reported
Infection with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC (contagious bovine pleuropneumonia) 1886
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis 2005
Theileriosis1 Never reported
Trichomonosis 1990
Trypanosomosis Never reported

1 The disease is not notifiable in Denmark.

Amendments to the Danish BSE surveillance programme 2001 - today

BSE testing in Denmark (periods) Clinically suspected cases tested Risk animals tested: emergency-slaughtered animals, fallen stock and AM animals Healthy slaughter animals tested
04.07.2013 - today All (no age limit) All >48 months No testing
01.01.2013 - 03.07.2013 All (no age limit) All >48 months Random samples > 72 months
01.01.2011 - 31.12.2012 All (no age limit) All >48 months All > 72 months
01.01.2009 - 30.06.2011 All (no age limit) All >48 months All > 48 months
01.07.2001 - 31.12.2008 All (no age limit) All > 24 months All > 30 months

Results of the Danish BSE surveillance programme, 2021-2023

  2021 2022 2023
Category Animals tested Positive animals Animals tested Positive animals Animals tested Positive animals
Fallen stock 21,534 0 22,868 0 19,471 0
Emergency-slaughtered animals 1,336 0 1,607 0 1,889 0
AM animals 0 0 0 0 0 0
Healthy slaughter animals 0 0 1 0 1 0
Clinical suspects 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 22,870 0 24,476 0 21,361 0

Source: EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority), 2023.

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed equine diseases in Denmark

Equine disease Latest occurrence
African horse sickness virus Never reported
Burkholderia mallei (glanders) 1928
Contagious equine metritis3 Disease absent
Dourine Never reported
Equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1)1,3 Disease absent
Equine arteritis virus (EVA)3 Disease absent3
Equine encephalomyelitis (Western) Never reported
Equine infectious anaemia 1928
Equine influenza virus1,3 Disease absent
Equine piroplasmosis1,3 Disease absent
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis Never reported

1The disease is not notifiable in Denmark.
2Due to widespread vaccination of competition horses and racehorses, incidents among those horses are rare and of a mild nature.
3Date of last occurrence unknown.

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed fish diseases in Denmark

Disease Latest occurrence
Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus Never reported
Infection with Aphanomyces invadans (epizootic ulcerative syndrome) Never reported 
Infection with Gyrodactylus salaris1 Disease suspected, but not confirmed 
Infection with HPR-deleted infectious salmon anaemia virus Never reported 
Infection with HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus2 2019 
Infection with salmonid alphavirus Never reported
Infectious haematopoietic necrosis 2023
Koi herpesvirus disease Disease suspected, but not confirmed
Red sea bream iridoviral disease1 Never reported  
Spring viraemia of carp 2003 
Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia 2009 

1The disease is not notifiable in Denmark.
2 Infectious salmon anaemia virus of the genotype HPR0 was detected in a wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at a facility for the restoration of wild salmon. The salmon was caught in the river of Gudenåen.

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed mollusc diseases in Denmark

Disease Latest occurrence
Infection with abalone herpesvirus1,2 Never reported
Infection with Bonamia exitiosa2 Never reported
Infection with Bonamia ostreae Disease present
Infection with Marteilia refringens Never reported
Infection with Perkinsus marinus Never reported
Infection with Perkinsus olseni Never reported
Infection with Xenohaliotis californiensis1,2 Never reported

1 The disease is not notifiable in Denmark.
2 Host is not present in Denmark.

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed pig diseases in Denmark

Disease Lates occurerence
Infection with African swine fever virus Never reported
Infection with classical swine fever virus 1933
Infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus Disease present
Infection with Taenia solium (porcine cysticercosis) Disease absent

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed poultry diseases in Denmark

Avian disease or infection Latest occurrence
Avian chlamydiosis1 Disease suspected, but not confirmed
Avian infectious bronchitis Disease suspected, but not confirmed
Avian infectious laryngotracheitis 2022 ???
Duck virus hepatitis Disease suspected, but not confirmed
Fowl typhoid 2002
Infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses (poultry) Disease present
Infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses (captive birds) 2024
Infection with low pathogenic avian influenza viruses transmissible to humans Never reported
Infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Avian mycoplasmosis) 1967
Infection with Mycoplasma synoviae (Avian mycoplasmosis)3 Disease absent
Infection with Newcastle disease virus 2023
Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease)3 Disease absent
Pullorum disease 2019
Turkey rhinotracheitis 2007

1 Occurrence mainly in ornamental, hobby and backyard birds.
2 Year of latest outbreak is not known.
3 Date of last occurrence unknown.

Source: The Poultry Database of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, 2023

Latest occurrence of WOAH-listed sheep and goat cattle diseases in Denmark

Disease Latest occurrence
Caprine arthritis/encephalitis1 2022
Contagious agalactia2 Never reported
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia Never reported
Infection with Chlamydophila abortus (enzootic abortion of ewes, ovine chlamydiosis)2 Never reported
Infection with peste des petits ruminants virus  Never reported
Maedi-visna3 Disease suspected
Nairobi sheep disease Never reported
Ovine epididymitis (Brucella ovis) Never reported
Salmonellosis (Salmonella abortusovis) Never reported
Scrapie (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, classical scrapie) Never reported
Sheep pox and goat pox  

1 Two goats tested positive in serological tests in 2022, but no clinical signs were observed.
2 The disease is not notifiable in Denmark.
3 One sheep from one holding tested positive in a serological test in 2023, but no clinical signs were observed.

Surveillance programs 2024

The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance programmea for cattle, 2024

Categori Animals tested Positive animals
Active surveillance    
Slaughtered animals 0 0
Emergency slaughters 2,167 0
Slaughterhouse antemortem inspection revealed suspicion or signs of disease 0 0
Fallen stock (>48 months) 18,706 0
Animals from herds under restriction 0 0
Passive surveillance    
Animals suspected of having clinical BSE 0 0
Total 20,873 0

 

Bulk milk samples and blood samples examined under the Danish cattle surveillance program, 2024.

Disease Bulk milk samples Blood samples
Bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD)  10,2631  16,042
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)  2,1562 9,230
Brucellosis  - 687

1Samples were taken from 2,163 dairy herds in 2024.
2Samples were taken from 2,122 dairy herds in 2024.
Source: SEGES Innovation, 2025.

Samples from horses examined under the Danish surveillance program in 2024.

Disease Number of samples Number of positive samples
Samples examined for trichinellose 504 0

Source: The Laboratory Division of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and other laboratories accredited to test for Trichinella spp.

 Surveillance samples, including export samples, tested under the Danish aquaculture surveillance programme, 2024

Disease Samples tested1 Type og tissue sampled Testing method
Infection with epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus 1060 Kidney, spleen and heart (and in some cases brain) Cultivation in cell culture followed by observation of cytopathic effect
Infectious haematopoietic necrosis 1060 Kidney, spleen and heart (and in some cases brain) Cultivation in cell culture followed by observation of cytopathic effect + PCR
Infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus 579 Kidney, heart and gills PCR
Infection with salmonid alphavirus 330 Kidney, heart and gills PCR
Spring viraemia of carp 11  Kidney, spleen and heart (and in some cases brain) Cultivation in cell culture followed by observation of cytopathic effect
Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia 1060 Kidney, spleen and heart (and in some cases brain) Cultivation in cell culture followed by observation of cytopathic effect + PCR

1 Each sample tested is a pooled sample of up to 10 fish per sample.

Samples from Danish pigs examined under the Danish surveillance program in 2024. Due to trade fluctuations, the number of samples tested often varies from year to year.

Disease Number of samples Number of positive samples
Blood samples examined for Aujeszky's disease 27,636 0
Blood samples examined for classical swine fever 12,323 0
Blood samples examined for brucellosis 17,284 0
Samples from pigs examined for trichinellose1  13.976.221 0
Samples from wild boars examined for trichinellose2 425 0

1 Includes boars and sows
2 Privately hunted wild boars are included. 
Source: The Laboratory Division of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and other laboratories accredited to test for Trichinella spp.

Results of the active Danish surveillance programme for avian influenza in poultry and game birds for restocking in 2024

  Holdings tested Positive holdings
Fattening and breeding geese    
Fattening and breeding ducks    
Farmed game birds    
Quails    
Holdings not included in the surveillance programme    
Total    

Some flocks/holdings are tested more than once a year. The figures only include one annual testing per flock/holding.

 

Results of the active Danish surveillance programme for avian influenza in wild birds, 1 January to 31 December 2024

Birds sampled Passive surveillance (dead or sick wild birds) Active surveillance (live wild birds)
Samples/pools 411  
Influenza A-positive birds  88  
LPAI H5-positive birds 0   
LPAI H7-positive birds 0   
HPAI H5-positive birds  85  
HPAI H7-positive birds  0  

1 Pools of cloacal swabs taken from up to five birds of the same species at the same time and location.
2 The actual number of positive birds is not known. If a sample pool is positive, at least one of the birds in the pool was positive.
When a pool tests positive for the HPAI virus, samples from the individual birds in the sample pool are tested individually.

The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) surveillance programmea for sheep and goats, 2024

Categori Goats tested Positive goats Sheep tested Positive sheep
Active surveillance        
Animals from herds under restriction 0 0 0 0
Fallen stock (>18 months) 86 0 325 0
Slaughtered for human consumption 0 0 0 0
Passive surveillance        
Animals suspected of having clinical TSE 0 0 0 0
Total 86 0 325 0

Surveillance in wild animals in Denmark, 2024

Pathogen Animals tested positive Animal species tested
Highly pathogenic avian influenza 77 11 37 horbour seals, 23 red foxes, 12 porpoises, 3 otters, 2 grey seals
West nile virus 28 0 Bats
European bat Lyssavirus 80 0 Bats
Echinococcus multilocularis 313 7 Red foxes
Bluetongue 24 122 1 roe deer, 1 fallow deer and 12 red deer 
Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus 24 0 1 roe deer, 1 fallow deer and 12 red deer 

1 The positive animal was a red fox.
2 Only red deer tested positive. In 10 out of 12 positive red deer, it was posible to test for virus. All tested positive for BTV-3.