H5N1 or H5N5 extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus serotypes had been detected at round 660 places throughout 27 European nations over the previous two months.
That is in keeping with the most recent evaluation of the illness state of affairs by the European Meals Security Authority (EFSA) with different European well being organizations. Simply printed, the evaluation covers states which might be members of the European Union (EU) and European Financial Space (EEA), and the interval from September 21 to December 6.
Of the full, home birds (poultry) had been affected in 341 of the outbreaks, with wild birds accounting for the remaining circumstances.
In its report, EFSA famous that lots of the latest outbreaks occurred in areas of excessive poultry density. Moreover, it says, secondary unfold from contaminated farms was a significant factor — quite than transmission from contaminated wild birds.
Over the evaluation interval, EFSA studies there had been no detections of HPAI viruses in individuals or different mammals within the area.
When it comes to human well being, the companies verify that the chance of an infection to the overall inhabitants from the H5 virus at the moment circulating in Europe stays low. For these in touch with contaminated animals or contaminated environments, the chance of an infection stays low-to-moderate, in keeping with the studies.
First HPAI outbreaks in poultry in Croatia, England
Over the previous two weeks, Croatia has reported its first circumstances of HPAI linked to the H5N1 virus serotype in poultry within the space of the capital metropolis, Zagreb.
The presence of the virus was confirmed after 22 birds in a yard flock died on the finish of November, in keeping with the official notification from the nationwide animal well being company to the World Organisation for Animal Well being (WOAH).
Firstly of December, the identical virus was detected in the UK (U.Ok.) following an eight-month hiatus. Affected was a flock of round 18,300 meat turkeys within the nation of Norfolk in jap England.
Throughout the next week, an extra three farm outbreaks had been reported to WOAH. These concerned one additional flock of meat turkeys, and two of geese. Two had been additionally positioned in Norfolk, and one additional north in Yorkshire.
As of December 19, the H5N1 virus has been detected at an extra six farms — 5 extra in Norfolk, and one in Yorkshire. In line with the federal government’s agriculture division, Defra, this brings the nationwide outbreak whole thus far in 2024 to 13.
Based mostly on these developments and growing numbers of infections in wild birds, Defra declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) overlaying the East Using of Yorkshire, metropolis of Hull, and counties of Norfolk and Suffolk to mitigate the chance of HPAI unfold.
Circumstances of the AIPZ require all poultry house owners — each industrial and pastime — to guard their flocks. Presently, housing of the birds is just necessary throughout the 3-km safety zone round a suspected or confirmed outbreak.
Additional poultry flocks affected in 5 European states
Since mid-November, Poland’s outbreak whole for the season has risen to 45 because the H5N1 virus was detected on three farms over the past week of final month. Affected had been flocks of meat turkeys in three completely different provinces, in keeping with the most recent WOAH report.
Greater than 3.1 million of the nation’s poultry have been impacted by these outbreaks, in keeping with the chief veterinary workplace.
Moreover, the nationwide veterinary company has knowledgeable WOAH about 4 extra HPAI outbreaks in yard poultry flocks.
In Germany, poultry have examined constructive for a similar virus serotype at two farms within the northwestern state of Decrease Saxony, and in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania within the northeast of the nation, in keeping with the most recent WOAH notifications.
Additionally registering two extra outbreaks with the Organisation over the previous two weeks had been Hungary and Italy. A second outbreak of the season has been confirmed within the Netherlands.
Earlier this week, the French agriculture ministry introduced that the entire nation is freed from HPAI.
This self-declaration adopted the lifting of restrictions on the final of the 12 confirmed outbreaks on poultry farms, and three in non-commercial flocks in France over latest months. Necessary for exports of poultry merchandise, the restoration of the nation’s disease-free standing is attributed to the efforts of all stakeholders within the business, and to the on-going duck vaccination program, in keeping with the ministry. Nevertheless, the evaluation of the illness danger stage stays at “excessive.”
Rising wild hen circumstances in Europe
After an absence of 13 months, the H5N1 HPAI virus was detected within the wild hen inhabitants of the Republic of Eire, in keeping with a latest WOAH notification. Testing constructive was a hen of prey discovered lifeless in county Galway within the west of the nation on the finish of November.
Over the past two weeks, 15 different nations within the area recognized additional HPAI circumstances linked to the H5N1 virus serotype in their respective wild hen populations. An additional two — Iceland and Norway — reported extra circumstances involving the H5N5 variant. That is in keeping with the Animal Illness Info System by the European Fee (EC), which displays listed animal illnesses in EU member states and adjoining nations, together with the Republic of Türkiye (Turkey).
The EC System doesn’t cowl the U.Ok. The animal well being company there has confirmed to WOAH {that a} additional six wild birds have examined constructive for the H5N1 virus, and there have been three extra H5N5 circumstances within the wild inhabitants.
Over the interval September 21 to December 5, 316 wild birds throughout the EU and EEA examined constructive for HPAI, in keeping with the EFSA evaluation of the illness state of affairs.
The report notes that lots of the outbreaks over these months concerned waterfowl — significantly swans — in southeastern Europe. Moreover, it highlights that the H5N5 virus serotype is being detected over a wider geographical space, and is now additionally affecting gulls and crows.
View our persevering with protection of the world avian influenza state of affairs in poultry, and on illness developments within the U.S. dairy sector.
