#12,820
Aside from ongoing outbreaks in Italy, and some scattered detections of H5N8 in wild birds in Germany and Switzerland, bird flu reports out of Europe have pretty much disappeared over the past 60 days.
That lull, however, may not last much longer as migratory birds are already arriving from their summer roosting spots.There are two broad categories of avian influenza; LPAI (Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza) and HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza).
- LPAI viruses are quite common in wild birds, cause little illness, and only rarely death. They are not considered to be a serious health to public health. The concern is (particularly with H5 & H7 strains) that LPAI viruses have the potential to mutate into HPAI strains.
- HPAI viruses are more dangerous, can produce high morbidity and mortality in wild birds and poultry, and can sometimes infect humans with serious result. The most dangerous subtypes are H5's and H7's.
Sint Philipsland (municipality Tholen, Zeeland) was adopted by a company with poultry bird flu (H5). To prevent spread of the virus, the company is cleared. In total there are approximately 42,000 laying hens. It is probably a mild H5 variant.Because a low pathogenic (mild) H5 variant can mutate to a highly pathogenic (highly contagious and deadly for chickens) variant, the company should be both at a low-to be removed as a highly pathogenic variant. This is based on European rules. The culling is performed by the Dutch Food Safety Authority (NVWA).
In the area of one kilometer around the holding in Sint Philipsland are no other companies. Minister Kamp of Economic Affairs immediately announced a ban on transporting poultry in an area of one kilometer around the holding in Sint Philipsland. A movement ban covers include poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding.
