EFSA recommends more protection for poultry

as fall migration seasonpriority should be given to protecting poultry and other livestock from wild birds.

Specifically, the European Food Safety Authority states that biosecurity on fur farms must be improved.

An HPAI outbreak in poultry was reported between June 24 and September 1, 2023 (25) and wild (482) in 21 European countries, according to latest report Information on avian influenza provided by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL).

Wild and domestic carnivores remain the most affected mammal species, with Finland reporting 26 outbreaks at fur farms raising minks, red foxes, arctic foxes, and common raccoons.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, the most likely source of introduction is contact with wild seagulls, but transmission between farms cannot be completely ruled out.

On-farm transmission occurred in some contact animals that did not show any clinical signs of infection.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assesses that the risk of infection by highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in the general population in Europe remains low, especially in cases of occupational or other exposure to infected birds or mammals (wild or domestic). For humans, the risk of infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses is low to moderate.

To further reduce the risk of infection, experts recommend avoiding contact with dead or sick seabirds or mammals.