Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024

Abstract Between 2 December 2023 and 15 March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) outbreaks were reported in domestic (227) and wild (414) birds across 26 countries in Europe. Compared to previous years, although still widespread, the overall number of HPAI virus detections in birds...

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Main Authors: European Food Safety Authority, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Alice Fusaro, José L. Gonzales, Thijs Kuiken, Gražina Mirinavičiūtė, Éric Niqueux, Karl Ståhl, Christoph Staubach, Olov Svartström, Calogero Terregino, Katriina Willgert, Francesca Baldinelli, Roxane Delacourt, Alexandros Georganas, Lisa Kohnle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-03-01
Series:EFSA Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8754
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author European Food Safety Authority
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza
Alice Fusaro
José L. Gonzales
Thijs Kuiken
Gražina Mirinavičiūtė
Éric Niqueux
Karl Ståhl
Christoph Staubach
Olov Svartström
Calogero Terregino
Katriina Willgert
Francesca Baldinelli
Roxane Delacourt
Alexandros Georganas
Lisa Kohnle
author_facet European Food Safety Authority
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza
Alice Fusaro
José L. Gonzales
Thijs Kuiken
Gražina Mirinavičiūtė
Éric Niqueux
Karl Ståhl
Christoph Staubach
Olov Svartström
Calogero Terregino
Katriina Willgert
Francesca Baldinelli
Roxane Delacourt
Alexandros Georganas
Lisa Kohnle
author_sort European Food Safety Authority
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Between 2 December 2023 and 15 March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) outbreaks were reported in domestic (227) and wild (414) birds across 26 countries in Europe. Compared to previous years, although still widespread, the overall number of HPAI virus detections in birds was significantly lower, among other reasons, possibly due to some level of flock immunity in previously affected wild bird species, resulting in reduced contamination of the environment, and a different composition of circulating A(H5N1) genotypes. Most HPAI outbreaks reported in poultry were primary outbreaks following the introduction of the virus by wild birds. Outside Europe, the majority of outbreaks in poultry were still clustered in North America, while the spread of A(H5) to more naïve wild bird populations on mainland Antarctica is of particular concern. For mammals, A(H5N5) was reported for the first time in Europe, while goat kids in the United States of America represented the first natural A(H5N1) infection in ruminants. Since the last report and as of 12 March 2024, five human avian influenza A(H5N1) infections, including one death, three of which were clade 2.3.2.1c viruses, have been reported by Cambodia. China has reported two human infections, including one fatal case, with avian influenza A(H5N6), four human infections with avian influenza A(H9N2) and one fatal case with co‐infection of seasonal influenza A(H3N2) and avian influenza A(H10N5). The latter case was the first documented human infection with avian influenza A(H10N5). Human infections with avian influenza remain rare and no sustained human‐to‐human infection has been observed. The risk of infection with currently circulating avian H5 influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b in Europe remains low for the general population in the EU/EEA. The risk of infection remains low to moderate for those occupationally or otherwise exposed to infected animals.
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spelling doaj-art-dba70efdece3449880aca5196cf546072025-08-20T03:14:23ZengWileyEFSA Journal1831-47322024-03-01223n/an/a10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8754Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024European Food Safety AuthorityEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and ControlEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Avian InfluenzaAlice FusaroJosé L. GonzalesThijs KuikenGražina MirinavičiūtėÉric NiqueuxKarl StåhlChristoph StaubachOlov SvartströmCalogero TerreginoKatriina WillgertFrancesca BaldinelliRoxane DelacourtAlexandros GeorganasLisa KohnleAbstract Between 2 December 2023 and 15 March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) outbreaks were reported in domestic (227) and wild (414) birds across 26 countries in Europe. Compared to previous years, although still widespread, the overall number of HPAI virus detections in birds was significantly lower, among other reasons, possibly due to some level of flock immunity in previously affected wild bird species, resulting in reduced contamination of the environment, and a different composition of circulating A(H5N1) genotypes. Most HPAI outbreaks reported in poultry were primary outbreaks following the introduction of the virus by wild birds. Outside Europe, the majority of outbreaks in poultry were still clustered in North America, while the spread of A(H5) to more naïve wild bird populations on mainland Antarctica is of particular concern. For mammals, A(H5N5) was reported for the first time in Europe, while goat kids in the United States of America represented the first natural A(H5N1) infection in ruminants. Since the last report and as of 12 March 2024, five human avian influenza A(H5N1) infections, including one death, three of which were clade 2.3.2.1c viruses, have been reported by Cambodia. China has reported two human infections, including one fatal case, with avian influenza A(H5N6), four human infections with avian influenza A(H9N2) and one fatal case with co‐infection of seasonal influenza A(H3N2) and avian influenza A(H10N5). The latter case was the first documented human infection with avian influenza A(H10N5). Human infections with avian influenza remain rare and no sustained human‐to‐human infection has been observed. The risk of infection with currently circulating avian H5 influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b in Europe remains low for the general population in the EU/EEA. The risk of infection remains low to moderate for those occupationally or otherwise exposed to infected animals.https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8754avian influenzacaptive birdsHPAIhumansmonitoringpoultry
spellingShingle European Food Safety Authority
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza
Alice Fusaro
José L. Gonzales
Thijs Kuiken
Gražina Mirinavičiūtė
Éric Niqueux
Karl Ståhl
Christoph Staubach
Olov Svartström
Calogero Terregino
Katriina Willgert
Francesca Baldinelli
Roxane Delacourt
Alexandros Georganas
Lisa Kohnle
Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024
EFSA Journal
avian influenza
captive birds
HPAI
humans
monitoring
poultry
title Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024
title_full Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024
title_fullStr Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024
title_full_unstemmed Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024
title_short Avian influenza overview December 2023–March 2024
title_sort avian influenza overview december 2023 march 2024
topic avian influenza
captive birds
HPAI
humans
monitoring
poultry
url https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8754
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