World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Cattle - December 6, 2024

[Commonground]

Published on December 6, 2024

The ongoing threat of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI)demands urgent global attention as it transcends its avian origins to affect domestic and wild mammals with increasing frequency. Notably, the ongoing circulation in dairy cattle in the United States of America (USA) is raising concerns within the international community.

While the virus primarily affects domestic and wild birds, it is increasingly being reported in both terrestrial and aquatic mammals. As of November 2024, more than 30 species of mammals have been infected with HPAI and this number is likely to increase, as data collected by the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) suggests the incidence of HPAI infections in the Northern Hemisphere rise in October and peak in February. These cases further highlight the virus’s ability to cross species barriers and pose a threat to wildlife, domestic animals, and public health.

The ongoing detections of HPAI in dairy cattle in the USA, spark significant international concern. Infected cattle are either asymptomatic or with mild illness showing non-specific clinical signs such as decreased milk production, thicker-colostrum‐like milk, reduced appetite, lethargy, fever and dehydration. The current intensive circulation of H5N1 in cattle increases the risk of H5N1 viruses becoming better adapted to mammals, and potentially spilling over to other livestock and humans.​

Continued: https://www.woah.org/en/high-pathogenicity-avian-influenza-hpai-in-cattle/

 

[Treyfish]

:tiphat:from above link..

WOAH calls on its Members to:

• Increase avian influenza surveillance in domestic and wild birds.
• Enhance surveillance for early detection in cattle population in countries where HPAI is known to be circulating.
• Include HPAI as a differential diagnosis in non-avian species, including cattle and other livestock populations, with high risk of exposure to HPAI viruses, in particular:
  • Animals showing clinical signs compatible with avian influenza;
  • Sick or dead domestic animals near HPAI affected premises;
  • Suspected, including apparently healthy animals, that have been exposed to or epidemiologically linked to suspected or confirmed HPAI in birds or cattle (i.e. situated in HPAI high-risk areas or in areas where avian influenza has been confirmed).
• Notify cases of HPAI in all animal species, including cattle or other unusual hosts, to WOAH through its World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) . Genetic sequences of avian influenza viruses should be shared in publicly available databases.
• Implement preventive and early response measures to breakthe HPAI transmission cycle among animals. This includes applying movement restrictions of infected livestock holdings until infection has stopped and strict biosecurity measures in all holdings, in particular in milking parlours and employ good production and hygiene practices when handling animal products. Raw milk or raw milk products from HPAI infected cows or exposed to those infected with HPAI should not be used to feed animals or for human consumption.
• Protect humans in close contact with or handling sick cattle or other sick livestock and their products. Exposed humans should always take precautionary measures to avoid getting infected and minimise the risk to mechanically carrying the virus to livestock or companion animals. This should include wearing personal protective equipment, avoiding visiting other livestock premises after the exposure and implementing standard food safety measures when handling animal products from exposed livestock.
• Avoid implementing unjustified trade restrictions. Import risk management measures should be scientifically justified and in line with the WOAH International Standards.

Technical guidelines for the adaptation of diagnostic tests for Influenza A in animals including cattle and other species as well as different types of samples such as milk and nasal swabs are available in the OFFLU website and will be regularly updated.

WOAH is fully committed to supporting its Members to mitigate the risks associated with avian influenza. We will continue to engage with our networks of experts, OFFLU, as well as public and private partners, notably through the One Health Quadripartite and the Global Framework for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs ) to provide technical updates as more information becomes available.
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​​​​​​https://www.woah.org/en/high-pathogenicity-avian-influenza-hpai-in-cattle/