FAO, OIE urge at-risk countries in Europe to step-up prevention efforts through increased biosecurity.

November 24, 2014

2 Min Read
Rapid spread of H5N8 avian flu threatens poultry sector

A new avian influenza strain detected in Europe that is similar to strains reported to be circulating in 2014 in Asia poses a significant threat to the poultry sector, especially in low-resourced countries situated along the Black Sea and East Atlantic migratory routes of wild birds, the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) warned Nov. 24.

Germany, the Netherlands and the U.K. have confirmed the new avian influenza virus strain H5N8 on poultry farms, and German authorities have also found the virus in a wild bird.

Earlier this year, China, Japan and South Korea reported outbreaks of H5N8 in poultry as well as findings in migratory birds and waterfowl, FAO and OIE said. The fact that the virus has now been found within a very short time interval in three European countries, both in a wild bird and in three very different poultry production systems, suggests that wild birds may have played a role in spreading the virus, FAO and OIE experts said.

H5N8 has so far not been confirmed to infect people. However, it is highly pathogenic for domestic poultry, causing significant mortality in chickens and turkeys. The virus can also infect wild birds, which show little signs of illness. It is known from other influenza viruses that wild birds are able to carry the virus long distances, the agencies said.

Should poultry systems with low-biosecurity conditions become infected in countries with limited veterinary preparedness, the virus could spread through farms with devastating effects, both on vulnerable livelihoods as well as on country economies and trade. The best way for countries to safeguard against these impacts is to encourage better biosecurity and to maintain surveillance systems that detect outbreaks early and enable veterinary services to respond rapidly, FAO and OIE said.

The new strain of avian influenza has not resulted in human cases. Nevertheless, it is related to the H5N1 virus, which is known to have spread from Asia into Europe and Africa in 2005-06. The H5N1 epidemic, in which wild birds have also been implicated, has caused the deaths of nearly 400 people and hundreds of millions of poultry to date. Therefore, prudent and precautionary interventions at the animal level are warranted, FAO and OIE said.

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