Tuesday, November 23, 2021

UK Reports 6 New H5 Avian Flu Outbreaks Over Past Two Days


Credit Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe)


#16,340

Europe's fall avian flu epizootic continues to worsen, with Germany, Italy and the Netherlands reporting more than 300 events between them (see chart above).  Two days ago, in OIE Calls For Increased Surveillance Against Avian Influenza As Outbreaks Intensify Around The Globe, we looked at renewed concerns over the spread of potentially zoonotic HPAI H5 viruses.

Although no longer included in the EU reporting, the UK is also seeing a major uptick in avian influenza reports, both in wild birds, and in poultry.  We last looked at the UK situation 12 days ago in DEFRA: Rapid Risk Assessment on Incursion of H5Nx HPAI.

Over the past week, there has been a sharp increase in avian flu reports from across Great Britain, including more than a dozen detections in wild birds in Epi Week 45 (see below). 


Over the past 2 days (Nov 21st-2nd) DEFRA has reported 7 outbreaks in poultry or captive birds, which equals the number of reports over the previous 20 days. 

  • H5N1 (high pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Copeland in Cumbria on 21 November.
  • H5N1 (high pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Mouldsworth, Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire on 21 November.
  • H5N1 (high pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a premises near North Fambridge, Maldon, Essex on 21 November.
  • H5N1 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) avian influenza confirmed at a commercial poultry premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire on 21 November.
  • H5N1 (high pathogenic) avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Wells-next-the-Sea, North Norfolk on 22 November.
  • H5N1 avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Leeming Bar, Hambleton North Yorkshire (2nd Premises), North Yorkshire on 22 November (pathogenicity to be confirmed).
  • H5N1 avian influenza confirmed at a premises near Thirsk, Hambleton, North Yorkshire (2nd premises) on 22 November (pathogenicity to be confirmed).
Although it is too soon to know how this year's epizootic will compare to the record setting 2016-2017, and 2020-2021 European outbreaks, this year's activity is getting off to an early, and robust, start.  

While primarily a threat to poultry and wild birds, last spring the European H5Nx clade 2.3.4.4b viruses were recognized to have some zoonotic potential (see CDC Adds Zoonotic Avian A/H5N8 To IRAT List).

Large avian epizootics are most likely to occur in Asia or in Europe - but even as protected as we are by two oceans - North America is not completely immune. In 2015 we saw an HPAI H5 epizootic which resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 million birds, huge economic losses, and shortages of eggs and chicken products across the country. 

Just as in Europe, there is a need to bolster biosecurity here in the United States (see H5Nx: Why North America Must Remain Alert).  The USDA has some advice on how to Defend The Flock at the website below.


For more on how avian flu strains from Asia and Europe might arrive in North America, you may wish to revisit:
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