Up to now, round one-third of French industrial geese has acquired not less than one dose of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)  vaccine.

The newest replace from the agriculture ministry places the variety of industrial geese which have acquired their first dose of H5N1 HPAI vaccine at greater than 21.6 million (as of March 4). That is three million greater than it reported on February 12.

All mainland areas of France have now begun vaccination of business geese, in response to the nationwide coverage. Finishing up probably the most vaccinations up to now have been the western and southwestern areas of Pays de Loire, Nouvelle Aquitaine, and Occitanie.

Following a number of waves of HPAI lately which have devastated the nation’s duck sector in explicit, France determined to start vaccination of business geese in October of final 12 months. Goal variety of geese was 64 million, overlaying the primary species, in flocks of medium and enormous dimension, and producing merchandise that weren’t supposed for export.

Regardless of the latter pledge and the progress made, France has suffered a backlash from worldwide markets over its determination to hold out the vaccination program.

Between November of final 12 months and mid-January, 10 HPAI outbreaks in French poultry flocks have been confirmed by the ministry. All have been linked to the H5N1 HPAI virus serotype. Simply three of the outbreaks concerned geese, whereas the opposite affected six flocks of turkeys, and one among laying hens.

In late February, the authorities formally declared the outbreak “resolved” to the World Organisation for Animal Well being (WOAH).

HPAI outbreak whole in European poultry flocks rises once more

Among the many area’s industrial birds, whole outbreaks have reached 130 for the 12 months so far.

That is in accordance to the most recent replace of the Animal Illness Data System from the European Fee (EC; as of March 1). It screens the animal illness scenario in European Union (EU) member states and neighboring international locations.

The system has recorded a number of outbreaks so far in 2024 in 15 states — a quantity unchanged from the earlier version dated February 23.

With the very best whole up to now this 12 months is Moldova with 55, adopted by Poland (24). For the reason that earlier replace, these totals have elevated by 20 and 4, respectively. Moreover, yet another outbreak in Slovakia has raised its whole to 5.

Additional element on a few of these developments are supplied in notifications from the nationwide animal well being companies to WOAH.

Poland’s two newest outbreaks occurred within the first days of March in two meat turkey flocks, in response to the WOAH report. With round 8,000 and 44,700 birds, the farms have been positioned in the identical district within the northeastern province of Warmia-Masuria. They bring about to 25 the variety of confirmed outbreaks on Polish poultry farms up to now in 2024, straight impacting 565,000 birds.

In Bulgaria, the variety of outbreaks this 12 months has risen by one to eight.

The newest to check optimistic for HPAI was a flock of nearly 40,000 poultry in Haskovo. These have been the primary circumstances within the present outbreak sequence on this southern province, and so they convey the full birds affected to greater than 120,700.

A second poultry unit at a beforehand contaminated premises within the Czech Republic (Czechia) has been depopulated as a consequence of HPAI.

In line with the WOAH report, the unique outbreak concerned round 11,700 mum or dad inventory birds, which confirmed medical indicators of illness, examined optimistic for HPAI, and have been culled. Individually managed and positioned at a distance of 100 meters have been 13,400 grandparent birds. Initially they displayed no signs, however subsequent checks confirmed they too have been contaminated, and so they have additionally been culled. 

Circumstances in captive birds in 4 states

Coated by this class underneath the EC System are HPAI outbreaks in non-commercial poultry, zoos, and related premises.

As of March 1, whole outbreaks in captive birds stands at 45. With a complete of twenty-two, the Czech Republic has registered probably the most outbreaks in this class because the begin of 2024, adopted by Germany (eight), and Ukraine (seven).

In contrast with the earlier version dated February 23, the Czech whole has elevated by two, and by one for every of Germany and Poland.

Moreover, the Romanian authority has notified WOAH of an additional outbreak in a yard flock within the northeast of the nation.

In line with WOAH studies, presence of the H5N1 HPAI virus serotype has been detected in all these outbreaks — in each poultry and captive birds.  

11 international locations register new HPAI circumstances in wild birds

As of March 1, 24 European international locations have reported HPAI circumstances of their respective wild chicken populations with the EC.

Whereas the quantity of countries is unchanged from the earlier replace dated February 23, the outbreak whole has elevated by 25 to 314.

Of the most recent whole, 104 outbreaks have been confirmed in Germany, 59 in Denmark, and 19 in Sweden. Totals for every of those states elevated because the earlier EC replace, alongside with these of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine.

Moreover, the authorities in Romania and Slovenia have every notified WOAH over the previous week about one extra wild chicken that had examined optimistic for HPAI.

With the exception of Northern Eire, the animal illness scenario within the United Kingdom (U.Okay.) is just not monitored by the EC.

Nevertheless, the U.Okay. authorities have notified WOAH about two extra wild birds which have examined optimistic for HPAI, and that this was recognized as belonging to the H5N5 serotype. They bring about to 5 the nation’s whole variety of contaminated birds testing optimistic for this variant since September of final 12 months.

In northern Germany, two wild birds have examined optimistic for a similar HPAI virus serotype. One was a first detection in additional than three years within the state of Decrease Saxony.

The nice majority of different circumstances amongst European wild birds have been linked to the H5N1 variant.

View our persevering with protection of the world avian influenza scenario.