Over the previous two weeks, the primary instances of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the autumn season have been reported in Albania, Nice Britain, Romania, and new areas of Germany and Ukraine.
That is in accordance with notifications to the World Organisation for Animal Well being (WOAH) from the respective nationwide veterinary businesses.
Whereas H5N1 continues to be prevalent HPAI virus serotype detected within the area’s wild and home birds this yr, the presence of the H5N5 variant has been confirmed for the primary time at a poultry farm.
Firstly of November, birds at a farm in northern England examined optimistic for H5N5 after round 200 of the 23,227 free-range laying hens on the premises died. The farm is situated In Hornsea within the East Using of Yorkshire.
The supply of the an infection is unsure, in accordance with the WOAH report. Nonetheless, this virus variant has been detected in wild birds throughout Nice Britain not too long ago, so contaminated wild birds are a probable supply of an infection.
Beforehand, the newest HPAI outbreak in British poultry was in February of this yr, and concerned the H5N1 virus.
With the newest growth, the United Kingdom (U.Okay.) loses its self-declared standing as freed from HPAI, though it doesn’t have an effect on the standing of Northern Eire as freed from the illness.
Following affirmation of the newest outbreak, the U.Okay.’s chief veterinarian urged all chicken homeowners to comply with scrupulous biosecurity procedures to scale back the chance of additional infections.
All poultry on the contaminated farm have been humanely culled, in accordance with the agriculture division, Defra. Motion restrictions on poultry, captive birds, carcasses, eggs, used poultry litter and poultry manure are in place inside a 3-km safety zone and 10-km surveillance zone across the outbreak.
Correctly cooked poultry meat and eggs stay suitable for eating within the U.Okay., in accordance with the Meals Requirements Company.
First HPAI instances in poultry in Albania, Romania, areas of Germany, Ukraine
In current days, the veterinary businesses of 4 European states/areas have notified WOAH about their first instances of HPAI in poultry linked to the H5N1 virus serotype.
For Albania, a yard outbreak in a flock of 20 poultry on the finish of October represented the primary ever within the space. It occurred close to to the nation’s capital, Tirana.
First HPAI instances since Might of this yr have been recorded in Romania. In response to the WOAH notification, affected was a yard flock within the southeastern county of Tulcea.
Following a seven-month hiatus, the H5N1 HPAI virus has been detected once more at two areas within the southeast German state of Bavaria. On the finish of October, one small poultry flock in every of two completely different districts examined optimistic for the virus.
Following a quick absence, poultry have examined optimistic for a similar HPAI virus variant in Mykolaiv, a province in southern Ukraine. The outbreak affected a village flock of round 160 birds, in accordance with the WOAH report.
HPAI state of affairs on European poultry farms
To date this yr, 18 international locations have registered a complete of 278 HPAI outbreaks in poultry. That is in accordance with the Animal Illness Data System by the European Fee (EC; as of November 6). It screens listed animal illnesses in European Union member states and adjoining international locations, however not Nice Britain.
For comparability, 521 outbreaks on this inhabitants in 24 international locations have been reported to the EC System throughout the entire of final yr.
So far in 2024, all however three of the outbreaks have been linked to the H5N1 serotype of HPAI virus serotype.
This yr, the best variety of outbreaks — 97 — have been recorded in Hungary, adopted by Moldova (45), and Poland (36). Totals for Bulgaria and Germany stand at 18.
Based mostly on notifications to WOAH, current outbreaks in Hungary have affected poultry flocks in six completely different counties. The good majority of the nation’s outbreaks have concerned industrial flocks of geese or geese, primarily for foie-gras manufacturing.
Additionally reporting new HPAI outbreaks on poultry farms to WOAH over the previous two weeks have been Poland (4 further outbreaks), Italy and Slovakia (every with two), and Austria, the Czech Republic (Czechia), and France — every with one.
Moreover, yet one more poultry flock has been hit by the illness in Bulgaria and North Macedonia, in accordance with the EC System.
5 nations affirm HPAI in captive birds
Individually from outbreaks affecting industrial poultry, the EC System screens the illness state of affairs in captive birds. This class typically covers yard poultry, zoos, and comparable premises.
For the yr so far, it has recorded a complete of 95 outbreaks on this class in 13 international locations (as of November 6).
Throughout the entire of 2023, 15 nations confirmed a complete of 93 outbreaks affecting captive birds to the EC.
Over the previous two weeks, two additional flocks of captive birds have been confirmed with HPAI in every of the Czech Republic, Moldova, and Slovakia, and one in every of North Macedonia and Poland.
HPAI vaccination marketing campaign resumes in France
From November 9, the French agriculture ministry has raised the extent of avian flu danger throughout the nation to excessive. This evaluation was based mostly on a current rise in instances in wild and home birds.
A second successive yr within the HPAI vaccination program commenced on October 1. Largely funded by the state, this targets industrial geese.
Throughout the first month of the brand new marketing campaign, 4 million of the nation’s geese obtained a primary vaccine dose, in accordance with the ministry.
Wild chicken outbreak complete approaches 600
To date in 2024, the EC has been knowledgeable a couple of complete of 597 outbreaks of HPAI affecting wild birds in 30 international locations.
For comparability, there have been greater than 3,500 outbreaks throughout the entire of final yr, reported by the identical quantity of countries.
Reporting new instances to the EC over the previous 14 days have been Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
Whereas H5 or H5N1 viruses have been concerned in these outbreaks, the H5N5 virus serotype was recognized in additional wild chicken instances recorded within the Faeroe Islands, Nice Britain, and Norway.
View our persevering with protection of the international avian influenza state of affairs in poultry, and on illness developments within the U.S. dairy sector.
