Cases of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, are the highest they’ve been in almost a decade.
Between September 6 and November 14, 1,443 avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses were detected in wild birds across 26 European countries.
Rates are four times higher than they were in the same period last year. In fact, they are higher than they have been since at least 2016.
The particular strain that has spread affects waterfowl species, such as ducks, swans and geese, the most.
“It is too early to understand the reasons behind the increase; this will become clearer after a few months, or even after the whole season,” explains a spokesperson for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
How industry should respond
EFSA recommends anyone keeping poultry to enhance surveillance and maintain high biosecurity on these birds.
They should also keep poultry indoors in areas with wild bird infections.
Wild bird infections should be continuously monitored, particularly in wetland areas and migratory stopover sites.
Artificial feeding of wild birds, particularly swans or cranes, should be avoided during periods of high risk.
Any wild bird carcasses found lying around should be removed. Disturbance of wild bird populations in general should be discouraged.
A map of infections and their likelihood can be found here.
Could infections spread to cows?
In the US, avian influenza has mutated to the point where the infection has spread to cows.
This genotype has not been found in the EU, or any other country besides the US, thus far.
EFSA is currently looking into the level of risk of this mutation entering Europe.
The food safety agency will publish an opinion on it by the end of the year.
