In recent weeks, more bird flu infections have been detected in wild birds in Europe, but the increase in infections started later than in previous years. This may be due to a delay in the autumn migration of several species of waterfowl. As the spread of the virus among wild birds increases during the winter period, the risk of outbreaks in poultry farms also increases, according to the European Food Safety Authority EFSA, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC and the European Reference Laboratory.
Between September 2 and December 1, 2023, 88 outbreaks of bird flu were reported in poultry or farmed birds across 23 countries. Bird flu was diagnosed 175 times in birds in the wild. The results are in line with trends predicted by the ‘Bird Flu Radar’, an EFSA tool that provides weekly forecasts of the likelihood of avian flu infections in wild birds.
European authorities report that 7 of 11 variants of the avian flu virus genotype found in Europe were new and affected several species of wild birds, especially common cranes. The first infections were found in wild birds and mammals in the Antarctic region.
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2023-12-15 16:48:14
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