Seagulls took over the breakwater again – Lahti prepares for bird flu

Cases of avian influenza in Europe have increased. The disease may also be introduced to Finland by spring migrants. In Lahti, people are being vigilant.

A flock of gull gulls is starting its breeding season on the breakwater in the harbour of Lahti.

According to Malin, the breakwater can accommodate three thousand pairs on average and the same number is expected this year. Once the chicks are born, the number of birds could rise to close to ten thousand.

The gull is a protected species and the Lahti gull colony is one of the largest in Finland.

In a tight set of diseases, the diseases are effectively spread. This happened two years ago in the summer, when the bird flu struck seagulls, waterfowl and spread to fur farms. In Lahti, the disease killed hundreds of seagulls in the harbor.

Last year, the situation in Finland was calm, but now the news from the world is raising concern. The risk of bird flu has increased with the spring migration of birds.

Bird flu has been found in wild birds and poultry on several continents. During winter 2025, epidemics have increasingly been in Europe and in the wintering areas of the seagulls. It is difficult to predict the progression and extent of the disease, and viruses also tend to transform.

In Finland, bird flu has been found in two chickens, Naaka and Canadian geese in the early part of the year. The birds were found in Helsinki, Turku and Taivassalo. There is also a wild otter from Eckerö’s Åland Islands.

The updated bird flu situation can be followed from the Food Agency’s page.

2023 in the memory

As the spring progresses, the situation will also be monitored in Lahti. Bird flu vaccinations for risk groups have also begun.

Ismo Malin thinks that if cases occur, they will begin to appear early in the summer.

– Now, however, the starting point and the readiness to respond are better than two years ago when everything was created in a way from scratch.

Ismo Malin reminds us that birds die other than the bird flu. There is no need to worry about a single dead bird. It is advisable to inform the local veterinarian about the mass deaths of birds and larger, even individual dead birds.

Phone numbers and information can be found on the Lahti City website. The instructions for the public are the same as in 2023.