#18,871
Today the ECDC has released an impressive 71-page operations framework for European countries to use when dealing with outbreaks of novel swine or avian influenza. This comes just 8 months after releasing ECDC Guidance: Recommendations for Preparedness Planning for Public Health Threats.
This operations support guide includes 14 scenarios (see chart below) that are `. . . based on specific epidemiological and virological factors, including animal origin, characteristics of human cases (number and exposure context), severity signals, that are then further defined based on the presence of virus mammalian adaptation, antiviral resistance and mismatch with available pre-pandemic vaccines and/or candidate vaccine viruses.'
They describe this framework as being for ` . . . EU/EEA national public health authorities, in particular those involved in preparedness plan updating, risk assessors and managers, and policy-makers in EU/EEA countries. It is also relevant to clinical and laboratory stakeholders involved in zoonotic influenza surveillance, risk communication, and outbreak response.'
Due to its length and complexity, I'll simply post the press release and a link and a few excerpts from the framework. This is a remarkably detailed framework, and you'll definitely want to download and review at length.
ECDC defines strategies to fight avian and swine flu in humans
Press release
4 Dec 2025
Unprecedented outbreaks in birds highlight the need for early detection and preparedness.
This autumn, Europe has seen a sharp increase in avian influenza A(H5N1) cases in wild birds and poultry. Its wide circulation among birds increases the risk of human exposure to infected animals and the virus subsequently spilling over to humans.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has today released a guide and tools to help European countries detect and respond to possible animal-related influenza threats, including pandemics.‘Although the current risk for the European people is low, avian influenza is still a serious public health threat due to widespread outbreaks among animals across Europe.’ says Edoardo Colzani, ECDC Head of Respiratory Viruses. ‘We need to make sure that early warning signs don’t go unnoticed and that public health actions are timely, coordinated, and effective. This document provides countries with a clear and adaptable framework to prepare for and respond to animal-to-human influenza transmission.’This new guide sets out practical response scenarios ranging from the current situation - where no human cases have been reported in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) but avian influenza viruses are circulating widely in animals - to more serious scenarios involving human infections and even potential transmission human-to-human that could lead to a pandemic.
The framework is designed to help countries act quickly and proportionately as risks evolve. It includes a range of public health response measures, from enhancing surveillance and laboratory testing to ensuring protective equipment is available and communicating clearly with the public. It also highlights the importance of genomic surveillance, laboratory capacity building, and real-time data sharing.
Crucially, the guidance embraces a ‘One Health’ approach, recognising that human health is closely connected to the health of animals and the environment. Close collaboration between veterinary services, agriculture, and public health, is essential to detect and contain threats early and protect people across Europe.
The guide was developed in close collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the European Reference Laboratory for avian influenza and national experts. These materials are designed to help countries integrate the recommendations into their national preparedness plans.
Access the guide
Scenarios for pre-pandemic zoonotic influenza preparedness and response
Operational support
4 Dec 2025
The aim of this framework is to guide a scalable public health response to influenza of zoonotic origin in EU/EEA countries and provide options for preparing and responding to different possible pre-pandemic scenarios. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported unprecedented levels of HPAI A(H5N1) circulation in wild birds across Europe during the 2025 autumn migration, highlighting the need for strengthened preparedness and coordinated public health action.
As with our own CDC - these are not mandates, only recommendations - and it is up to each individual public health entity to decide what to incorporate in their planning.
Hopefully nations - in Europe, and around the globe - are taking notice. Because while the threat from HPAI to the general public may be deemed `low' today, that could change in a heartbeat.
