Because the begin of this month, the HPAI threat stage has been revised downwards by the veterinary authorities of France, Germany, and The Netherlands.
Newest evaluation of the illness state of affairs throughout France by the agriculture ministry has lowered to “negligible.” That is based mostly on the low variety of HPAI outbreaks in poultry flocks within the 2023-2024 winter season — simply 10 nationwide — and none in any respect since January 16. This compares with 402 confirmed outbreaks over the earlier season. Moreover, the final wild hen contaminated with HPAI in France was recognized in early January.
Again in mid-February, the French authorities formally declared the HPAI state of affairs within the nation’s poultry “resolved.”
Throughout the Netherlands, the duty to maintain poultry and captive birds housed or caged has now been lifted nationwide.
On the finish of March, the Dutch agriculture ministry had lifted these restrictions besides in areas with the very best density of poultry farms.
In Germany, the HPAI threat stage has additionally been lowered — for each poultry and wild birds — in accordance with the nationwide veterinary reference laboratory, Friedrich-Loeffler Institute (FLI).
Regardless of the obvious easing on this evaluation, FLI recommends that protecting measures stay in place in the intervening time.
Over current weeks, the German veterinary company has declared virtually the entire ongoing HPAI outbreak collection in business poultry “closed” to the World Organisation for Animal Well being (WOAH). For the 2 northern states the place the illness collection stays unresolved for now, there have been no new circumstances since February.
Following the current detection of circumstances of H5N1 HPAI an infection in U.S. dairy cows, the FLI seems to be taking a extra cautious method to HPAI threat evaluation.
France maintains momentum on HPAI vaccination
As of Could 6, virtually 32.5 million of the nation’s geese had obtained their first dose of vaccine in opposition to HPAI, in accordance to the French agriculture ministry.
Following devastating losses from HPAI in earlier seasons, the nationwide vaccination marketing campaign started in October of final 12 months. It required the vaccination of all business geese throughout mainland France besides these producing merchandise for export.
Vaccination has taken place in all areas. Numbers of geese vaccinated thus far have been highest in the principle facilities of duck farming within the west of the nation. These are Pays de la Loire (14.24 million birds obtained their first vaccine dose), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (8.78 million), Occitania (3.79 million), and Bretagne (Brittany; 3.43 million).
Only one nation studies new HPAI outbreak in poultry
To this point this 12 months, 147 HPAI outbreaks in business poultry flocks have been recorded in 16 European nations (as of Could 5).
That is in accordance to the Animal Illness Data System from the European Fee (EC). It displays the illness state of affairs in European Union (EU) member states and neighboring nations.
Since an earlier replace dated April 19, the entire variety of outbreaks has risen by three. All of those have been in Hungary.
Highest nationwide whole for the reason that begin of the 12 months is 55 outbreaks in Moldova, adopted by Poland (with 25), though neither nation has added to its whole since early March. Subsequent comes Hungary, now with a complete of 13 outbreaks for the 12 months to this point.
In 2023, the EC System recorded a complete of 521 outbreaks in poultry throughout 24 nations.
Individually, the EC information HPAI outbreaks in non-commercial poultry, zoos, and related premises in the class “captive birds.”
No new circumstances in this class have been reported since mid-March. At the moment, seven nations had registered a complete of 46 outbreaks affecting this inhabitants.
For comparability, 15 nations registered a complete of 99 HPAI outbreaks in captive birds by the EC’s System throughout 2023.
Primarily based on WOAH notifications, the H5N1 HPAI virus serotype was detected within the overwhelming majority of outbreaks in Europe’s poultry and captive birds in the course of the 2023-2024 season.
4 European states report new circumstances in wild birds
Amongst their respective wild hen populations, solely 4 nations had registered new circumstances with the EC or WOAH since mid-April.
As of Could 5, the EC System had logged a complete of 386 outbreaks in wild birds, with circumstances in 27 nations. These embrace Bulgaria, which registered its first wild hen case of 2024 late final month.
Over the past week of April, one extra outbreak occurred in Germany and in Slovenia.
For comparability, 30 nations in Europe registered HPAI circumstances in wild birds with the EC in 2023 — 3,559 outbreaks in whole.
The EC System not displays the illness state of affairs in Nice Britain.
Nonetheless, one additional case linked to the H5N5 HPAI virus serotype was reported to WOAH in Scotland. It was a golden eagle discovered lifeless on Lewis within the Western Isles in October of final 12 months.
View our persevering with protection of the international avian influenza state of affairs.
