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The incidence of bird flu outbreaks in poultry is decreasing in Europe.

The incidence of bird flu outbreaks in poultry is decreasing in Europe. Bird flu, decline, Europe, outbreaks, poultry Food and Beverage Business

According to a report on avian influenza by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the EU reference laboratory (EURL), avian influenza or bird flu outbreaks in March and April this year were less frequent in poultry birds compared to the previous reporting period. The report also noted the decrease in bird flu outbreaks when comparing data from spring 2022.

Bird flu outbreaks were reported in Hungary, Italy, Germany, the UK, Czechia, Denmark, France, Poland, Bulgaria, Sweden, and Switzerland. Most of these cases were primary outbreaks without secondary spread while some were associated with atypical disease presentation, especially low mortality. Despite the decrease in cases of bird flu outbreaks in wild birds as compared to the previous reporting period, there was still an increase in infections compared to spring last year.

Moreover, the report revealed that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has continued to expand in the Americas and is predicted to reach Antarctica soon. The detection of cases of infections in six new mammal species, including marine mammals, was a first-time occurrence. Two cases of infections were also found in cats in the US and one in a dog in Canada. To prevent similar occurrences, EFSA recommends preventing pets from being exposed to dead or diseased animals in areas affected by HPAI.

Furthermore, the report disclosed that in Europe, during the 2021-2022 reporting period, more than 2,467 outbreaks were detected in poultry, leading to the culling of 48 million domestic birds in 37 countries. This prominent bird flu outbreak was the largest ever recorded on the continent with Germany alone destroying over 2 million birds in 2021.

In France, two primary poultry outbreaks were reported during the reporting period. Increase in mortality and the presence of clinical signs were reported in commercial farms rearing broilers and turkeys, which had outdoor access. The turkey operations also showed a decrease in feed and water intake. However, there was no data on the number of exposed people or the source of introduction at the time of publication of this report. The authors suggested that the decrease in overall poultry outbreaks and the significant reduction in the secondary spread of virus infections seen in France might be a consequence of a voluntary reduction in the density of operations involved in domestic duck production in the southwestern part of the country.

EU health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, declared that the “fight against avian influenza is at the top of our priorities.” In February this year, she announced new EU rules on the vaccination of animals to curb the spread of the disease, citing that these outbreaks are damaging the agricultural sector and hampering trade. For now, just one vaccine is authorised in the EU against bird flu. The new EU rules, which entered into force in March, permit the movement of animals and goods from businesses and zones where vaccination has taken place, according to Horizon, the official EU research and innovation magazine.

In conclusion, the report showed a decrease in bird flu outbreaks in poultry birds in March and April 2023 compared to the previous period. However, the detection of cases of infections in new mammal species and the expansion of HPAI in the Americas is a cause for concern. Vaccination of animals has been implemented to curb the spread of the disease, and the decrease of avian influenza in France is attributed to the voluntary reduction of operations in domestic duck production.

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