Yorkshire is facing a new outbreak of bird flu after the H5N5 strain was detected on a poultry farm. The British government has announced strict measures to limit the spread of the virus, including the culling of infected poultry and the creation of a protection zone around the farm.
In the north of England, Yorkshire is now facing an epidemic of avian flu after the detection of the H5N5 strain in poultry, the first cases recorded on farms since the start of the autumn season, the government announced on Tuesday British. The Department of the Environment and Agriculture (Defra) has confirmed, for its part, that all poultry on the farm located near the seaside resort of Hornsea will be culled to prevent the spread of the virus. In addition, a three-kilometer “protection zone” around the farm was established, restricting the movements of poultry and intensifying biosecurity measures in the area. This strain was already circulating this fall among wild birds in Great Britain, just like the H5N1 strain, more widespread and responsible for heavy devastation on a global scale in recent years.
Prevention measures
The presence of these strains in Yorkshire requires authorities to act quickly to limit the spread. In addition to the mass culling of infected poultry, local breeders are called upon to strengthen their biosecurity practices, such as strict control of access to farms, disinfection of equipment and increased monitoring of animal health. Great Britain, now considered not unscathed Northern Ireland remains the only British territory to retain this status. Regardless, the disease mainly affects birds and the risk to public health is very low, according to the UK Health Safety Agency.
Substantial economic losses
Avian flu imposes major challenges on breeders, forced to euthanize thousands of poultry to contain epidemics. These measures, although necessary, result in substantial economic losses, affecting not only individual farms but also the entire poultry supply chain. The costs generated by slaughter, health control and trade restrictions can weaken the sector in the long term. Faced with the resurgence of cases, the British government has raised the risk linked to the H5N5 strain from “medium” to “high” for wild birds, and from “very low” to “low” for all poultry farms at this time. stadium.
Strains highly pathogens
Known for their high pathogenicity, the H5N5 and H5N1 viruses belong to the subtypes of the influenza virus type A. Identified for the first time in China in 1996 on a farmed goose, H5N1 remains the most widespread and feared strain of the virus, having caused devastating epidemics in many countries and led to considerable economic losses in the poultry sector. Since 2020, a variant of the H5N1 virus has caused unprecedented mortality in wild birds and poultry in many countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. This strain can, in rare cases, infect humans, raising concerns about a potential pandemic risk. In July 2023, the World Health Organization expressed concerns that the increase in cases of avian flu in mammals could allow the virus to transmit “more easily” to humans.
Although less common, H5N5 has similar high pathogenicity characteristics to other strains. Discovered more recently, this virus has mainly affected domestic and wild birds, thus increasing the risk of transmission between avian species. Sporadic cases have been reported in several countries, mainly in Europe and Asia, over the past two decades. Less documented due to its limited impact on human health compared to H5N1 and H7N9, surveillance of the H5N5 strain remains crucial to prevent any mutations likely to increase its potential for transmission to humans.
International cooperation is crucial to combating avian flu, with information exchanges and common strategies to stem the spread of viruses. The situation in Yorkshire highlights the importance of constant vigilance and rapid response to emerging health threats – particularly infectious -, now exacerbated by global warming.
With AFP
