Between 16 November 2017 and 15 February 2018, onehighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)A(H5N6) and fiveHPAI A(H5N8) outbreaks in poultry holdings, two HPAI A(H5N6) outbreaks in captive birdsand 22 HPAI A(H5N6) wild bird events were reported within Europe.There is a lower incursion ofHPAIA(H5N6) in poultrycompared to HPAI A(H5N8). There is no evidence to date that HPAI A(H5N6) viruses circulating in Europe are associated with clades infecting humans. Clinical signs in duck sinfectedwith HPAI A(H5N8) seemedto be decreasing, based on reportsfrom Bulgaria. However, HPAI A(H5N8) is still present in Europe and is widespread in neighbouring areas. The majority of mortality events of wild birds from HPAIV A(H5)in this three- month period involved single birds. This indicates that the investigation of events involvingsingle dead birds of target species is important for comprehensive passive surveillance for HPAI A(H5). Moreover, 20 low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) outbreaks were reported in three Member States. The risk of zoonotic transmission to the general public in Europeis considered to be very low. The first human case due to avian influenza A(H7N4) was notifiedinChinaunderlining the threat that newly emerging avian influenza viruses pose for transmissionto humans.Close monitoring is required of the situation in Africa and the Middle East with regards to HPAI A(H5N1) and A(H5N8). Uncontrolled spread of virus and subsequent further genetic evolution in regions geographically connected to Europe may increase uncertainty and risk for further dissemination of virus.The risk of HPAI introduction from T hird countries via migratory wild birds to Europe is still considered much lower for wild birds crossing the southern borders compared to birds crossing the north-eastern borders, whereas the introduction via trade is still very to extremely unlikely