Avian influenza overview October 2016–August 2017

Abstract

The A(H5N8) highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemic occurred in 29 European countries in 2016/2017 and has been the largest ever recorded in the EU in terms of number of poultry outbreaks, geographical extent and number of dead wild birds. Multiple primary incursions temporally related with all major poultry sectors affected but secondary spread was most commonly associated with domestic waterfowl species. A massive effort of all the affected EU Member States (MSs) allowed a descriptive epidemiological overview of the cases in poultry, captive birds and wild birds, providing also information on measures applied at the individual MS level. Data on poultry population structure are required to facilitate data and risk factor analysis, hence to strengthen science-based advice to risk managers. It is suggested to promote common understanding and application of definitions related to control activities and their reporting across MSs. Despite a large number of human exposures to infected poultry occurred during the ongoing outbreaks, no transmission to humans has been identified. Monitoring the avian influenza (AI) situation in other continents indicated a potential risk of long-distance spread of HPAI virus (HPAIV) A(H5N6) from Asia to wintering grounds towards Western Europe, similarly to what happened with HPAIV A(H5N8) and HPAIV A(H5N1) in previous years. Furthermore, the HPAI situation in Africa with A(H5N8) and A(H5N1) is rapidly evolving. Strengthening collaborations at National, EU and Global levels would allow close monitoring of the AI situation, ultimately helping to increase preparedness. No human case was reported in the EU due to AIVs subtypes A(H5N1), A(H5N6), A(H7N9) and A(H9N2). Direct transmission of these viruses to humans has only been reported in areas, mainly in Asia and Egypt, with a substantial involvement of wild bird and/or poultry populations. It is suggested to improve the collection and reporting of exposure events of people to AI. (7) of the above mentioned Decision, the concerned experts were allowed to take part in the discussions and in the drafting phase of the EFSA Scientific report on Avian influenza monitoring (Art. 31) -overview October 2016 -August 2017, and have not been allowed to be, or act as, a chairman, a vice-chairman or rapporteur of the WG.

Protective Measures for Humans against Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Outbreaks in 22 European Union/European Economic Area Countries and Israel, 2016–17

“…These outbreaks required ≈25 million poultry to be destroyed or culled as part of preventive action ( 30 ). According to the EU reference laboratory for avian influenza, as October 4, 2017, EU Member States had reported 2,781 outbreaks of H5N8 influenza in poultry, wild birds, and captive birds, as well as 20 outbreaks of H5N5 influenza and 1 outbreak of H5N6 influenza in a wild bird ( 31 ).…”

“…Different responsibilities between these authorities and local, regional, and national levels hampered comprehensive information about numbers of persons exposed. Only 9 countries were able to provide at least some veterinary data, which suggested that ≈1,570 persons were exposed during 258 outbreaks ( 30 ). The total number of exposed persons or exposure events during outbreaks in all affected countries remains unknown.…”

Estimation of the number of exposed people during highly pathogenic avian influenza virus outbreaks in EU/EEA countries, October 2016–September 2018

“…The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asked all EU/EEA countries’ representatives to provide data on HPAI outbreaks for the period October 2016–June 2017 (Brown, Mulatti, et al ()). Reporting categories included the number of susceptible birds, holding specifications (commercial, non‐commercial) and the number of people exposed.…”

“…Between 2016 and 2018, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) A(H5N8), A(H5N6) and A(H5N5) affected 24 EU/EEA countries (EFSA, Brown, Kuiken, et al ; EFSA, Brown, Mulatti, et al, ). Approximately 20 million birds had to be culled either directly due to a confirmed outbreak or indirectly as a precaution, for example, related to prevention measures within the control zone (Hansen, Brown, Brookes, Welchman, & Cromie, ; Napp, Majo, Sanchez‐Gonzalez, & Vergara‐Alert, ).…”

Workshop on Avian Influenza

“…Since September 2017 EFSA, working in close collaboration with the ECDC and the EURL, has released five scientific reports updating on the AI situation within Europe and worldwide (EFSA 2017a;2017b;2018a;2018b;2018c). Each of these reports covered a three month period update (September to November 2017, November 2017 to February 2018, February to May 2018, and May to August 2018), with the exception of the first report that provided an update for the time period between October 2016 and August 2017.…”