Avian Influenza: The Highly Pathogenic H5N8 Subtype Is Spreading Across Europe

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza are on the rise in several European countries. Cases have been reported in wild birds and poultry in Hungary, Poland, Germany, Croatia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and along the border between Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. This resurgence is causing concern among French poultry farmers, who have already been hard-hit by the avian influenza epizootic that ravaged the Southwest earlier this year. To prevent any risk of the virus spreading in France, the Ministry of Agriculture is reiterating the importance of implementing biosecurity measures on farms and has announced increased surveillance of wildlife throughout the country.   In recent weeks, several confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 have been reported in Europe. The virus is circulating in both wildlife and poultry farms. As of November 14, 2016, nine cases or outbreaks had been reported in the avifauna in Germany, Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland (Lake Geneva), and along the Austria-Switzerland-Germany border (Lake Constance). Ten outbreaks were reported on farms in Germany (three outbreaks), Austria (two), and Hungary (five). Outside Europe, an outbreak was reported on the border between Israel and Jordan, at a farm with 45,000 chickens. Hungary notified the European Commission of outbreaks on its territory, as well as the establishment of protection zones and surveillance zones. Brussels reviewed and approved this zoning, while noting that the restricted zones established in Hungary must be “rapidly defined at the Union level ,” in collaboration with that Member State, “in order to prevent any unnecessary disruption to trade within the Union and to avoid third countries imposing unjustified barriers to trade.” Thus, in the annex to its implementing decision*, the Commission defines the Hungarian protection and surveillance zones in which the animal health measures provided for in Directive 2005/94/EC** apply, and sets the period of validity for these zones. Meanwhile, the French Ministry of Agriculture has launched an enhanced active surveillance plan for the avifauna throughout the country, with the assistance of the ONCFS. This enhanced surveillance will enable an early response, if necessary, to contain any new outbreak of avian influenza and thus prevent the risk of the influenza virus spreading and causing further infections. Veterinarians and poultry owners are also urged to remain highly vigilant in detecting clinical signs of the disease and to report any unusual mortality . Furthermore, due to weather conditions favorable to the spread of the virus, the ministry has consulted the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) to conduct a risk assessment of exposure across the country by region. Its risk assessment is expected within a week. The national risk level for avian influenza has already been raised from negligible to moderate. A call has been issued urging farmers to implement adequate protective measures and to report any suspected deaths in their flocks.   * http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016D1968&from=FR ** Council Directive 2005/94/EC establishes certain preventive measures regarding the surveillance and early detection of avian influenza, as well as minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of this disease in poultry or other captive birds. This directive provides for the establishment of protection zones and surveillance zones in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). In France, these measures were strengthened by the decree of February 8, 2016, and have been in effect throughout the country since July 1 of this year.