#16,273
Over the past few weeks we've been watching the fall incursion of avian influenza into Europe via migratory birds, as they make their way from China, Russia, and other high latitude summer nesting areas. A few recent examples include:
Avian Flu Reports From Russian Poultry & German Zoo
Czech Republic Reports H5 Bird Flu Outbreak
FLI Risk Assessment: Avian Flu Threat High For Germany & Europe This Fall
At the same time, we've been watching growing concerns over the evolution - and zoonotic potential - of HPAI H5 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, which up until last winter, were considered to pose a miniscule threat to human health.
Following the first (7) confirmed human infections with H5N8 last December in Russia, we've seen a flurry of reports on the rising threat of these European HPAI H5 viruses, including:
Last May, in Science: Emerging H5N8 Avian Influenza Viruses, we looked at a review by two well-respected Chinese scientists (Weifeng Shi and George F. Gao) on the evolution, and growing zoonotic threat, of avian H5N8, stating:
- the ". . . global spread of AIVs, particularly the H5N8 subtype, has become a major concern to poultry farming and wildlife security but, critically, also to global public health."
- And due to the ". . . long-distance migration of wild birds, the innate capacity for reassortment of AIVs, the increased human-type receptor binding capability, and the constant antigenic variation of HPAIVs the authors warned that it was imperative that " . . . the global spread and potential risk of H5N8 AIVs to poultry farming, avian wildlife, and global public health are not ignored."
And in June, in V. Evolution: Genomic Evolution, Transmission Dynamics, and Pathogenicity of Avian H5N8 Viruses Emerging in China, 2020, we saw Chinese researchers describe the rapid rise in 2020 of an antigenically distinct H5N8 virus that is lethal to chickens and mice, that is similar to the Russian Zoonotic strain, and has shown signs of mammalian adaptation.
These concerns have further increased following multiple reports of neurotropic infection of mammals with HPAI H5N8 (see EID Journal: HPAI A(H5N1) Virus in Wild Red Foxes, the Netherlands, 2021).
While none of this means that HPAI H5N8 is ready for prime time, it does mean we are obliged to keep a close watch on it as it returns this fall and winter to Europe. Even as an epizootic, H5 can cause significant economic damage.
All of which brings us to a new report of HPAI H5 detected at a poultry farm in the Netherlands. This translated statement from the Netherlands Rijksoverheid (National Government) website.
Bird flu infection in laying hens at poultry farm Zeewolde: national confinement obligation in force
News item | 26-10-2021 | 12:03
As of October 26, 2021 at 12:00 pm, Minister Schouten of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality will introduce a compulsory indoor confinement for all companies that keep commercial poultry. The measure was taken in response to a finding of highly pathogenic bird flu (H5) in laying hens on an organic poultry farm in Zeewolde (Flevoland). To prevent the virus from spreading, the infected farm in Zeewolde with approximately 36,000 animals is being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
In view of the outbreak in Zeewolde, increasing finds of dead wild birds in the north of the Netherlands and infected wild birds in Germany, Minister Schouten is introducing a national obligation to cage poultry for commercially kept poultry. This is done to reduce the risk of the bird flu virus being introduced from wild birds to companies in the Netherlands.
Zoos, petting zoos and owners of hobby birds (such as pigeons and parakeets) and chickens are obliged to screen their poultry and waterfowl to prevent the birds from coming into contact with sick wild birds or their droppings as much as possible. This can be done, for example, by keeping the animals in an aviary. On the website of the NVWAyou can find more information about how this can best be done. A ban has also been imposed on the display of poultry, waterfowl and ratites.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality will have the introduction risk assessed by the animal diseases expert group.
Transport ban Zeewolde
There are 6 other poultry farms in the area of 3 kilometers around the infected farm in Zeewolde. These companies are sampled and examined for bird flu. There are 9 other poultry farms in the 10 kilometer zone around this company. Minister Schouten of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has immediately announced a transport ban for poultry companies in this zone of 10 kilometers around the company in Zeewolde. A transport ban concerns poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding, as well as other animals and animal products from farms with commercially reared poultry.
Report dead wild birds
It is important that finds of dead wild birds are reported to the appropriate authorities. More information about the best place to do this can be found on the NVWA website . Bird keepers are obliged to report animal loss to the NVWA. As a result, bird flu infections can be detected earlier and the risk of spreading is reduced.
