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Avian influenza overview September - December 2022
EFSA Journal. European Food Safety Authority
|January 26, 2023
Summary
Europe experienced its most severe highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemic from October 2021 to September 2022, impacting poultry, captive, and wild birds across 37 countries. Continued HPAI circulation in wild waterfowl poses an ongoing risk to poultry populations.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Epidemiology
- One Health
Background:
- The period October 2021–September 2022 saw Europe's most devastating highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemic, with over 2,520 outbreaks in poultry and 3,867 detections in wild birds across 37 countries.
- This epidemic led to the culling of 50 million birds and demonstrated unprecedented geographical spread.
- A subsequent reporting period (September–December 2022) indicated 1,163 HPAI detections across 27 European countries, with a notable shift towards increased detections in waterfowl.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the epidemiological situation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Europe.
- To analyze trends in HPAI virus detections in different bird populations and geographical regions.
- To assess the risk of HPAI transmission to poultry and potential zoonotic implications.
Main Methods:
- Surveillance and reporting of HPAI outbreaks and virus detections in poultry, captive birds, and wild birds across European countries.
- Analysis of HPAI virus genotypes, including the emergence of new genotypes (clade 2.3.4.4b).
- Monitoring of HPAI detections in wild and farmed mammals and human cases.
Main Results:
- Between October 2021–September 2022, Europe faced a severe HPAI epidemic affecting 37 countries, resulting in 50 million birds culled.
- From September–December 2022, 1,163 HPAI detections were reported, with a decrease in seabirds and an increase in waterfowl.
- New HPAI virus genotypes (clade 2.3.4.4b) were detected, alongside evidence of adaptation to mammals and rare human infections (A(H5N1), A(H5N6), A(H9N2)).
Conclusions:
- Continuous circulation of HPAI in wild waterfowl poses a persistent threat to poultry, with waterfowl suspected as primary incursion agents.
- Emerging HPAI genotypes and mammalian adaptation increase the complexity of the epidemic and potential for spillover.
- While the risk to the general EU/EEA population is low, it is low to medium for occupationally exposed individuals.
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