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Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (Inf. with)(non-poultry including wild birds)(2017-), United Kingdom
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Outbreak locations have been provided by the relevant Veterinary Services and may not represent the exact location of an outbreak. OIE assumes no liability for the data displayed.
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DISEASE
Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (Inf. with)(non-poultry including wild birds)(2017-)
STARTED ON
20-11-2020
ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL
GENOTYPE/ SEROTYPE/ SUBTYPE
H5N8
CONFIRMED ON
25-01-2021
REASON
Unusual host species
CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
ENDED ON
11-02-2021
DISEASE CATEGORY
OIE-listed
REPORTED ON
15-03-2021
LAST OCCURENCE
-
Epidemiology
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SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
- Contact with wild species
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
Carcasses of four common seals, one grey seal and one red fox submitted to APHA laboratory during December 2020 for diagnostic PME as part of routine wildlife disease surveillance activities. Two of the Common Seal carcasses were autolysed so were safely disposed of without PME. Following histopathological examination of tissues from the fox and seals identified lesions indicative of acute systemic viral infection further laboratory testing was performed at APHA. This testing resulted in the detection of H5N8 influenza virus infection. Gene Sequencing identified this H5N8 influenza virus to be [99.9%] identical to avian-origin H5N8 viruses detected from the Mute swans that had died and been tested from this wildlife rescue centre. In November 2020, five wild Mute swans (Cygnus olor) that had been rescued and taken to a wildlife rescue centre died, were tested and found to be infected with H5N8 HPAI. Retrospective investigation of the deaths of five seals - four Common seals (Phoca vitulina) and one grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) - and one red fox (Vulpes vulpes) approximately one week later at the same wildlife rescue centre resulted in the finding of H5N8 influenza virus infection. These were all wild animals temporarily located at the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre. Comorbidities were not investigated, and it is possible that other factors may have influenced disease severity. Infection of mammalian species is a rare event, with no prior authenticated cases of H5N8 infection in foxes. All laboratory investigations and testing were performed at APHA. Test results confirm both the H5N8 influenza virus being of avian origin, and the source hypothesis as the Mute swans at the rescue centre that were also H5N8 positive. There was no evidence of spread of infection from the wildlife rescue centre.
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Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (Inf. with)(non-poultry including wild birds)(2017-), United Kingdom
...
Outbreak locations have been provided by the relevant Veterinary Services and may not represent the exact location of an outbreak. OIE assumes no liability for the data displayed.
...
DISEASE
Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (Inf. with)(non-poultry including wild birds)(2017-)
STARTED ON
20-11-2020
ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL
GENOTYPE/ SEROTYPE/ SUBTYPE
H5N8
CONFIRMED ON
25-01-2021
REASON
Unusual host species
CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
ENDED ON
11-02-2021
DISEASE CATEGORY
OIE-listed
REPORTED ON
15-03-2021
LAST OCCURENCE
-
Epidemiology
down
SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
- Contact with wild species
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
Carcasses of four common seals, one grey seal and one red fox submitted to APHA laboratory during December 2020 for diagnostic PME as part of routine wildlife disease surveillance activities. Two of the Common Seal carcasses were autolysed so were safely disposed of without PME. Following histopathological examination of tissues from the fox and seals identified lesions indicative of acute systemic viral infection further laboratory testing was performed at APHA. This testing resulted in the detection of H5N8 influenza virus infection. Gene Sequencing identified this H5N8 influenza virus to be [99.9%] identical to avian-origin H5N8 viruses detected from the Mute swans that had died and been tested from this wildlife rescue centre. In November 2020, five wild Mute swans (Cygnus olor) that had been rescued and taken to a wildlife rescue centre died, were tested and found to be infected with H5N8 HPAI. Retrospective investigation of the deaths of five seals - four Common seals (Phoca vitulina) and one grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) - and one red fox (Vulpes vulpes) approximately one week later at the same wildlife rescue centre resulted in the finding of H5N8 influenza virus infection. These were all wild animals temporarily located at the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre. Comorbidities were not investigated, and it is possible that other factors may have influenced disease severity. Infection of mammalian species is a rare event, with no prior authenticated cases of H5N8 infection in foxes. All laboratory investigations and testing were performed at APHA. Test results confirm both the H5N8 influenza virus being of avian origin, and the source hypothesis as the Mute swans at the rescue centre that were also H5N8 positive. There was no evidence of spread of infection from the wildlife rescue centre.
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