Annual Report on surveillance for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in Member States of the European Union in 2018

Abstract

Avian influenza (AI) is a viral infectious disease that affects all species of domestic and wild birds. The viruses causing this disease can be of high (HPAI) or low (LPAI) pathogenicity and represent a continuous threat to poultry in Europe. Council Directive 2005/94/EC requests EU Member States (MSs) to carry out surveillance in poultry and wild birds and notify the results to the responsible authority. Therefore, MSs and Switzerland have implemented surveillance programmes to yearly monitor incursions of AI viruses in poultry and wild birds. EFSA received a mandate from the European Commission, to collate, validate, analyse and summarise in an annual report the data resulting from the avian influenza surveillance programmes. This is the first report produced under this mandate summarising the results of the surveillance activities carried out in poultry and wild birds in 2018. Overall 18,596 poultry establishments were sampled, of which 43 were seropositive for H5 AI and two for H7 AI. Seropositive establishments were found in 11 MSs, with the highest percentage of seropositive establishments being found in waterfowl gamebird, and geese and duck breeding establishments. A total of 9,145 dead/moribund wild birds were sampled, with 163 birds testing positive to HPAI virus H5N6. The infected birds were reported by eight MSs and were mostly found between January and April 2018. In this report, the wild bird species affected with HPAI are described and the strategy of targeted sampling is assessed. The crude odds ratio of HPAI detection as a function of the target species (species belonging to the list of target species versus species not belonging to the target list) is presented. The surveillance findings for poultry and wild birds for 2018 are also discussed in relation to findings from previous years and current knowledge on the epidemiology of AI in Europe.

Long-Term Protective Effect of Serial Infections with H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Ducks

“…Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of the Goose/Guangdong (Gs/Gd) lineage are an emerging threat to wild birds ( 1 – 11 ). Since the emergence of the H5 A/goose/Guangdong/1/96 lineage in 1996, HPAIVs have successfully adapted and circulated widely in several wild bird species ( 3 , 8 ).…”

“…Examples of these successful mechanisms are the numerous global incursions of the subtype H5N8, clade 2.3.4.4, in the 2014–2015, 2016–2017, and 2020–2021 seasons, which to date is responsible for the highest number of HPAIV outbreaks in wild birds. During the H5N8 outbreak in 2014–2015, the virus spread long distances from Asia to Europe and North America via infected migratory birds ( 1 , 2 , 6 ). Epidemiological analysis and experimental infection studies showed that wild ducks (including Eurasian wigeons, Anas penelope , and mallards, Anas platyrhynchos ) can be infected with 2014 H5N8 virus without clinical or pathological evidence of disease ( 13 – 20 ).…”

Seasonal risk of low pathogenic avian influenza virus introductions into free‐range layer farms in the Netherlands

“…The risk of outbreaks in commercial poultry has increased in recent years, due to circulation of HPAI H5 viruses in the wild bird population (European Food Safety Authority et al, 2019). Furthermore, the expansion of free-range poultry farms, driven by consumers and animal welfare organizations, increases the opportunities for contact between poultry and wild birds (Bouwstra et al, 2017;Elbers & Gonzales, 2019).…”

Detection of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H10N7 in Poultry and Environmental Water Samples During a Clinical Outbreak in Commercial Free-Range Layers, Netherlands 2017

“…Such a tool has several applications. First of all, EU countries monitor the circulation of AIV in their environment using dead wild bird surveillance programs (25). In such a surveillance, dead found wild birds are examined for AIV: AIV positive dead wild birds indicate that the virus may be circulating in the area where the bird was found.…”