Experts noted the continued circulation of the HPAI virus in wild birds in Europe throughout the year, albeit in low numbers. They recommended increased surveillance in the coming flu season.
For the first time in many years, Australia has reported cases of HPAI. The various subtypes circulating in Australia are not currently reported in the rest of the world. Experts also noted the unexpected diversity of mammalian species affected by HPAI, as well as the different viral genotypes circulating among poultry, wild birds and mammals in North America. Direct transmission from cattle to cattle has not yet been confirmed, while raw milk from cows has been observed as an unexpected new route of transmission of the virus. Current evidence indicates that industrial pasteurization plays a significant role in the inactivation of HPAI virus in raw cow’s milk
In Romania, the last case of avian flu was reported in March of this year, in a stork carcass collected from Girisu de Cris, in Bihor county.
Humans are not immune to the bird flu virus
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) warned in the spring of a bird flu pandemic if the virus becomes transmissible between humans, as they have no immunity to it. “If avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses acquire the ability to spread efficiently among humans, widespread transmission could occur due to the lack of immune defenses against H5 viruses in humans,” EFSA said in a report. By the end of the year, EFSA and ECDC will publish a study assessing how a potential influenza pandemic might develop, with guidance for risk managers to reduce the risk to human health.
The biggest risk factors have been identified
A scientific report by EFSA and ECDC assessing the risk factors for a potential influenza pandemic and the necessary intervention measures identifies certain species of fur-bearing animals (e.g. minks or foxes) that are highly susceptible to influenza viruses , as possible spreading factors. Although mammal-to-mammal transmission has not yet been confirmed, wild mammals could act as bridge hosts between wild birds, domestic animals and humans. Pets such as cats that live in households and have access to the outdoors can also be a potential vehicle of transmission. Agriculture in waterfowl-rich areas with outdoor production and/or poor biosecurity may facilitate the introduction of the virus to farms and its spread.
A new problem for Romania
Recently, the first outbreak of Plague of Small Ruminants was confirmed in a farm with 49,000 sheep in Tulcea county. According to the legislation in force, it was decided to immediately kill the entire flock of sheep, followed by the exhumation of the corpses by burying them on the territory of the farm, in a location approved by the National Environmental Guard and the Tulcea Water Management System. Plague of Small Ruminants (PMR) is a very serious viral disease that affects several species of small ruminants, domestic and wild, very contagious and with a very severe evolution, ending in 70% exitus. Clinically, the disease is characterized by evolution from superacute to subacute, with manifestations of fever and general, digestive and respiratory disorders, and morphopathologically – by hemorrhages, ulcerative lesions, erosions or necrosis on the digestive and respiratory mucosa, in some cases by pneumonia or bronchopneumonia . ANSVSA asks economic operators in Romania involved in the ruminant trade activity to pay maximum attention to the instructions sent by ANSVSA through the county health and veterinary departments, in order to protect their herds of small ruminants from this disease. Any suspicion of illness must be notified as soon as possible to the county authorities. In Europe, as of July 20, several outbreaks of PMR have been confirmed in mixed goat and sheep holdings in the Region of Thessaly, Greece.
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Source: jurnalul.ro
