The total number of infected birds in EU farms is about 1 million
Between 16 March and 14 June 2024, 13 countries in Europe reported 42 cases and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza Influenza And on birds (abbreviation in English: HPAI). Fifteen outbreaks of A(H5) have been reported in domestic and 27 cases in wild birds, the Food Chain Risk Assessment Center reports in a scientific report (CORHV). The data show a drastic reduction in influenza cases compared to previous years.
Of all the countries with an established infection in domestic and wild birds, Bulgaria is the most affected.
Outside of Europe, the situation with Viscopathogenic Avian Influenza A has become more complicated in the USA, where a new genotype A(H5N1) (B3.13) has been detected in more than 130 dairy cattle herds in 12 states. Infection in cattle probably also affects the udder, with milk from infected animals showing high viral loads and representing a new means of transmission.
Avian influenza viruses have also been identified in two other mammals – alpacas and walruses.
14 cases of human infection have been reported in Vietnam, Australia, India, USA, China and Mexico after contact with poultry, a live bird market or dairy cattle. Human infections with avian influenza A continue to be rare and no human-to-human transmission has been observed, therefore the risk of infection to the EU population is inferred to be low and for workers in livestock facilities to be low to moderate.
The spread of the HPAI virus in poultry is observed in South-Eastern Europe, with two clusters concentrated in Bulgaria and Hungary. In the indicated period, 7 outbreaks of A(H5Nx) were found in poultry in Bulgaria, 8 A(H5N1) were found in Hungary. For the same period, but in the previous epidemiological years, there were 173 outbreaks of A(H5).
A total of about 1 million birds in both countries have died or been euthanized in poultry farms affected by HPAI.
Bulgaria suffered greater damage, as a little over 670,000 birds were killed in the 7 outbreaks in our country. In the 8 of Hungary, they are 121 thousand.
In Bulgaria
On March 27, the first outbreak was confirmed in a livestock facility where chickens are raised
layers (n=86,054), the birds had no access to the open air. Increased mortality and reduced egg production, as well as reduced feed and water intake, were observed. No clinical signs were reported. The most likely source of introduction is indirect contact with wild birds.
On April 9, an outbreak was detected as a result of active surveillance in another livestock facility where laying hens (n=25,028) are raised. Increased mortality and clinical signs were observed, with reduced feed and water intake, but no reduction in egg production was reported. The most likely source of introduction is indirect contact with poultry, although the outbreak has been reported as primary. The birds did not have access to the outdoors.
Over the next two days, two more outbreaks were detected: one in a backyard chicken farm (n=98) and a second in a broiler farm (n=396,561). Increased mortality, clinical signs and reduced feed intake were observed in both farms
water. The most likely source of introduction is indirect contact with wild birds. Backyard birds had access to the outdoors, but not in the commercial broiler farm.
On 16 April, a new outbreak was confirmed in a poultry farm for laying hens (n=153,893) without the birds having access to the open air. Increased mortality, clinical signs and reduced feed and water intake were observed, no reduction in egg production was reported. Indirect contact with wild birds is the most likely source of introduction of the virus.
On 9 May, 2 commercial establishments rearing ducks for the production of foie gras (n=1,800 and n=6,300) were reported. The presence of the virus in these livestock facilities was established through active surveillance. No increased mortality or clinical signs were observed. Both sites had outdoor access for the birds, making the most likely source of entry for the virus
indirect contact with wild birds.
A total of 38 people were at risk.
In Hungary
In the same period, 8 poultry outbreaks were reported in Hungary. Half of them are considered secondary and were in commercial farms raising only one type of bird. On April 13, an outbreak of A(H5N1) was detected in a livestock facility rearing ducks for fattening (n=45,000). The most likely source of penetration of the virus is indirect contact with wild birds, birds
they had no access to the outdoors.
On 15 April, 4 outbreaks were reported: a secondary outbreak close to the previous one in a poultry farm raising geese for fattening (n=6,150) and another secondary outbreak in a poultry farm for ducks for fattening (n=4,880). This poultry farm is owned by the same person whose facility had an outbreak two days earlier at his other facility in Hungary.
On the same day (April 15), two primary outbreaks were reported in poultry farms raising geese (n=1,700) and turkeys for fattening (n=19,900). In the poultry farms, there was no outdoor access for the poultry. The most likely source of virus entry in the last two outbreaks was indirect contact with wild birds.
On April 18, the virus was detected in a poultry farm raising turkeys for fattening (n=26,500). The birds were found to have come from the same poultry farm as the turkeys that tested positive for the A(H5N1) virus three days earlier. At the time the outbreaks were reported, the poultry farm from which they originated had no birds and was not affected by the virus. The outbreak was later determined to be secondary and the most likely source of introduction was indirect contact with poultry.
On April 20, 2024, an outbreak was detected in a poultry farm rearing Muller ducks for foie gras production (n=2,000). The owner of the ducks is the same as the geese that tested positive for the A(H5N1) virus on April 15. The most likely source of introduction is indirect contact with poultry.
On April 26, another outbreak was detected in a poultry farm raising turkeys for fattening (n=20,000). There was no outdoor access for the birds at the site and the most likely source of entry was indirect contact with wild birds. Despite the suspected role of wild birds in the introduction of the virus in the four outbreaks, no cases of A(H5N1) virus-positive wild birds were reported in the country during the reporting period.
Increased mortality and clinical signs were reported in all 8 outbreaks. Reduced feed and water intake was observed in all sites, except for the 3 sites that raised turkeys. There is no information on the number of people at risk during the outbreaks.
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