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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal & Plant Health Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring
december 21, 2017
Disease report
Since our last update on the 11th December, Netherlands has reported three cases of H5N6 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds in Flevoland, near the outbreak reported on the 8th December in commercial ducks.
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Situation assessment
Since our last update on 11th December 2017 reports of H5N8 HPAI in Europe, there have been no further outbreaks reported since the last one in Italy on the 11th in Ravenna in 60 day old turkeys (IZSV, 2017).
The finding of H5N6 HPAI in dead mute swans in Netherlands is concerning for several reasons: this is the first time this virus has been reported in wild birds in Europe; it has been reported in the past few months in SE and E Asia, where it is also affecting wild waterbirds, for example the endangered Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) in a national park in Taiwan and mute swans, tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula) and black headed gulls (Larus ridibundus) in Japan; in Asia, poultry outbreaks from as wide afield as the Phylipines to South Korea have been reported which suggests it is spreading easily within the wild bird migratory flyway and finally, it is present in the Netherlands which serves as a near stop-over point for waterfowl migrating further west into the UK at this time of year.
Incursions of H5N6 HPAI through wild bird migration from Europe will remain a continuous risk to the UK until February.
december 21, 2017
Disease report
Since our last update on the 11th December, Netherlands has reported three cases of H5N6 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds in Flevoland, near the outbreak reported on the 8th December in commercial ducks.
(............................)
Situation assessment
Since our last update on 11th December 2017 reports of H5N8 HPAI in Europe, there have been no further outbreaks reported since the last one in Italy on the 11th in Ravenna in 60 day old turkeys (IZSV, 2017).
The finding of H5N6 HPAI in dead mute swans in Netherlands is concerning for several reasons: this is the first time this virus has been reported in wild birds in Europe; it has been reported in the past few months in SE and E Asia, where it is also affecting wild waterbirds, for example the endangered Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) in a national park in Taiwan and mute swans, tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula) and black headed gulls (Larus ridibundus) in Japan; in Asia, poultry outbreaks from as wide afield as the Phylipines to South Korea have been reported which suggests it is spreading easily within the wild bird migratory flyway and finally, it is present in the Netherlands which serves as a near stop-over point for waterfowl migrating further west into the UK at this time of year.
Incursions of H5N6 HPAI through wild bird migration from Europe will remain a continuous risk to the UK until February.