Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to circulate widely among seabirds in Europe and causes high mortality. Poultry is actually doing better. This is stated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the latest update published on Thursday.
An outbreak of bird flu among cats is currently being investigated in Poland. According to Efsa, the risk to humans is still low. Infections among wild bird species are occurring throughout Europe, from northern Norway to the Mediterranean coast. Dead seabirds are found not only along the coast, but also inland.
Efsa recommends that European countries continue to actively monitor disease in wild birds and in particular waterfowl in order to map out the circulation of the various bird flu strains. According to the regulator, insight into this is very important in order to be able to assess the possible risks to public health.
Number of mammals died
Wild mammals that become infected with bird flu are usually carnivores that hunt wild birds or feed on dead birds. In Poland, 24 cats and one kept caracal have tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus so far. A number of these animals have died from the effects of the virus. It is not entirely clear how the animals became infected. So far, no cat-to-cat or cat-to-human transmission has been identified.
The bird flu virus was found in five dogs and a cat on an Italian farm, without these animals having any complaints. They have been tested because they live on a farm where bird flu has broken out among poultry. Efsa recommends increased monitoring for HPAI viruses in wild and free-ranging domestic carnivores in high-risk areas. Furthermore, it is important not to expose carnivore pets to dead or sick animals.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the risk of infection with highly pathogenic bird flu for people in Europe is still low. For people who come into professional contact with infected birds or mammals, the risk is moderate. According to this organization, it remains important that they do not come into contact with sick seabirds and mammals.
2023-07-13 13:01:00
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