Over the previous two weeks, veterinary businesses from 10 of the continent’s nations have confirmed new circumstances of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of their respective poultry flocks, whereas two extra have recorded outbreaks in yard or captive birds. In the meantime, wild birds have examined optimistic for HPAI in 18 nations throughout Europe.
Whereas the quantity of HPAI outbreaks amongst Europe’s poultry, captive and wild chook populations stays comparatively low, new circumstances have been detected broadly throughout the area over current weeks.
In business poultry, whole outbreaks have reached 105 to this point this yr. That is in accordance to the newest replace of the Animal Illness Data System from the European Fee (EC; as of February 23). Monitoring the animal illness scenario in European Union (EU) member states and neighboring nations, the System has recorded a number of outbreaks to this point in 2024 in 15 states.
Since the earlier replace dated February 2, this represents a rise of 37 outbreaks, and first circumstances of the yr seem to have been confirmed in Italy, Northern Eire, and Norway.
So far registering the best outbreak whole is Moldova with 35 for the yr to date, adopted by Poland (20), and Germany (9).
Of the just lately reported outbreaks, 13 had been in Poland, 5 in Moldova, 4 in Bulgaria and Denmark, three within the Czech Republic (Czechia) and Germany, and two in Slovakia.
First farm circumstances of the yr in Italy, Norway, U.Ok.
In accordance to the EC’s System, every of those three nations has recorded its first circumstances of HPAI in poultry for 2024 over the previous three weeks. Notifications from the respective veterinary businesses to the World Organisation for Animal Well being (WOAH) provide additional particulars of the illness scenario. The presence of the H5N1 HPAI virus serotype was detected in every case.
The outbreak in Italy was confirmed after 50 meat turkeys died immediately at a farm within the province in Padua within the Veneto area earlier this month. Later, it was reported the affected flock comprised a complete of round 37,400 birds.
In accordance with the nationwide reference lab for avian influenza IZSVe, this was Italy’s sixth HPAI outbreak of the season, which started in mid-November of 2023.
Norway had skilled a 12-month hiatus from HPAI till round 70 birds at a farm in Rogaland county examined optimistic for an H5 virus earlier this month, in accordance with the WOAH report.
Affected was a complete of round 18,000 chickens, reported the Norwegian veterinary institute. The birds had been stored in two separate homes, and the an infection seems to be contained in one of many buildings. That group was culled instantly, however the destiny of the remaining birds shouldn’t be but reported.
Whereas the EC’s System seems to incorporate the primary outbreak of 2024 in Northern Eire, this could also be inaccurate. No circumstances of HPAI in poultry have been reported by the agriculture division there just lately.
Lately, the illness scenario in the remainder of the UK (U.Ok.) has not been monitored by the EC System. Nevertheless, it’s doable that the one outbreak recorded by the EC in Northern Eire was actually that confirmed on February 12 within the northeast English area of East Yorkshire. In accordance to the WOAH notification, that affected a flock of round 48,000 laying hens.
Avian flu developments elsewhere in European poultry
Over the previous two weeks, Poland has registered HPAI circumstances at an extra 9 business premises to WOAH.
Thus far this yr, 23 outbreaks have been confirmed by the Polish chief veterinary workplace (as much as February 27). Whole birds impacted by these outbreaks has handed 529,000.
For the reason that first week of February, eight of the 13 confirmed outbreaks have occurred in the identical county — Ilawa – within the northeastern province of Warmia-Masuria. Primarily affected over this era have been meat turkeys and meat geese.
In Bulgaria, the 2024 outbreak whole has risen to seven with the affirmation to WOAH of three new affected farms. One in all these represents the fifth of the yr within the central province of Plovdiv, whereas the others had been the primary in Veliko Tarnovo and Dobrich, that are additional north and east.
Outbreak whole within the Czech Republic presently stands at 5. Two outbreaks reported to WOAH in the midst of February concerned one flock of point-of-lay pullets, and one other of broiler breeders. Each had been situated within the central-southern area of Vysocina.
Final week, WOAH acquired a report from the Danish authorities about nation’s fifth outbreak in business poultry. Affected was a flock of round 20,000 laying hens in the Zealand area.
France makes progress with duck vaccination program
The most recent replace from the French agriculture ministry places the variety of business geese which have acquired their first dose of H5N1 HPAI vaccine at greater than 18.5 million (as of February 12). All mainland areas of France have now begun vaccination of economic geese, in accordance with the nationwide coverage.
The nationwide authority has just lately declared to WOAH that the H5 HPAI scenario in poultry has been “resolved.” This declaration follows affirmation of outbreaks at 10 premises since November of final yr, however no additional circumstances have been detected since early January.
New circumstances in captive birds recorded in 7 states
In accordance with EC System, veterinary businesses of seven European nations have confirmed HPAI circumstances on this class to this point this yr.
Together with non-commercial poultry, zoos, and related premises, the entire has reached 41 (as of February 23). That is an enhance of 14 for the reason that version revealed 21 days beforehand.
With a complete of 20, the Czech Republic has registered essentially the most outbreaks on this class to this point, adopted by Germany and Ukraine, every with seven.
First outbreaks of the yr have been recorded by Denmark and Poland, and the Austrian whole has risen by one for the reason that earlier version.
Additional HPAI circumstances in wild birds throughout Europe
As of February 23, 24 European nations have reported HPAI circumstances of their respective wild chook populations with the EC. This contains first circumstances of 2024 for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Lithuania, and Slovenia.
For the reason that earlier replace on February 2, the outbreak whole has elevated by 144 to 289.
Of the entire, 91 have been reported by Germany, and 56 by Denmark. Every registering between 10 and 20 outbreaks on this inhabitants for the yr to this point had been Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden.
View our persevering with protection of the international avian influenza scenario.
