2020–2023 H5N8 outbreak

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In the early 2020s, an ongoing outbreak of avian influenza subtype H5N8 has been occurring at poultry farms and among wild bird populations in several countries and continents, leading to the subsequent cullings of millions of birds to prevent a pandemic similar to that of the H5N1 outbreak in 2008. The first case of human transmission of avian flu, also known as bird flu, was reported by Russian authorities in February 2021, as several poultry farm workers tested positive for the virus.

Contents

Outbreak

Early outbreak in Saudi Arabia

On 4 February 2020, the Saudi Arabian government reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 virus on a poultry farm. The outbreak, which occurred in the central Sudair region, killed more than 22,000 birds in a few weeks. [1]

H5N8 spreads to Russia and Central Asia

In the summer months, H5N8 was detected in wild birds in western Russia and Kazakhstan. Because this included waterbirds that migrate into northern and western Europe, it was considered likely that the virus would be detected there later in the year (as would be confirmed in October–November). [2]

International spread in late 2020 and early 2021

On 22 October, the agriculture minister Carola Schouten of the Netherlands confirmed that H5N8 had been found in samples from wild birds in the country. [3] As a countermeasure, it was required that birds in poultry farms were kept indoors and isolated. From late October to mid-November, it had spread to three chicken farms and a duck farm in the country, and the 320,000 birds in the farms had been eradicated to stop the spread. [4] Shortly after the first detection in the Netherlands, it was confirmed in the United Kingdom (October: poultry; November: wild birds and poultry), Germany (October: wild birds; November: wild birds and poultry), Republic of Ireland (October and November: wild birds), Belgium (November: wild birds), Denmark (November: wild birds and poultry), France (November: poultry) and Sweden (November: poultry). [2] These outbreaks resulted in countermeasures that were similar to those already taken in the Netherlands. [5] [6]

According to official confirmed reports from the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, multiple dead chickens were found in 49 poultry farms: 16 on Shikoku Island, 15 on Kyushu Island, ten in Kanto region, five in western Honshu, one each on Awaji Island, Gifu Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture, Japan from 5 November 2020, to 25 February 2021. According to a local official confirmed the report, these cases were the highly pathogenic H5N8 type flu.[ citation needed ]

On 10 November, South Korea's agriculture ministry said it had confirmed the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of bird flu in samples from wild birds in the central west of the country and issued its bird flu warning. [7]

On 27 November, China's agriculture ministry reported that H5N8 had been found in wild swans in Shanxi province, while Norway detected its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of bird flu in wild geese in Sandnes municipality, prompting the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to introduce a regional ban on outdoor poultry. [8] [9]

On 30 November, South Korea reported an outbreak of pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza at a farm in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, killing over 19,000 ducks. [10]

2021 outbreaks

The H5N8 avian influenza was reported in two districts of Indian state of Kerala in early January 2021 which killed hundreds of birds in late December 2020. Thousands of birds were culled. Avian influenza outbreaks of unknown subtypes were later also reported in five other states of India. [11] [12] [13] 160,000 birds in two poultry farms in Barwala, Panchkula and Raipur Rani are to be culled. 437,000 birds died in this poultry belt between mid-December and 8 January 2021. [14] By 9 January 2021, seven states confirmed the outbreak. [15]

On 15 January, authorities in Namibia suspended the importation and transit of poultry from European countries where an outbreak of the Avian influenza subtype H5N8 has been reported. [16]

On 20 January, Iraq reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu on a farm in the city of Samarra, which killed 63,700 birds out of the 68,800-strong flock, according to the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The remaining birds were subsequently culled. [17]

On 1 February, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 in wild Swans at the Winter Palace, Beijing. [18]

On 2 February, authorities in Brandenburg, Germany, culled 14,000 turkeys on a farm due to a confirmed outbreak of H5N8 in the Uckermark area. [19]

On 9 February, Algeria reported an outbreak of H5N8 on a poultry farm in the town of Aïn Fakroun. The outbreak killed 50,000 birds, with the remaining 1,200 birds in the flock being culled, according to a report from the Agriculture Ministry. [20]

Afghanistan reported an outbreak of H5N8 bird flu on a poultry farm in Herat Province on 25 February. The outbreak killed 794 birds, while the remaining 22,000-strong flock were subsequently culled, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. [21]

Warwickshire, UK reported an outbreak on 8 November 2021. A 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone have been established. [22]

Avian flu was detected at a poultry farm in Akita Prefecture in northeastern Japan, prompting the culling of roughly 143,000 chickens, according to the prefectural government on 10 November 2021. [23]

2022 outbreaks

From February to April 2022, avian flu outbreaks in United States have resulted in the culling of more than 22.8 million birds in 24 states. [24]

Avian flu has affected England. In Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex, poultry has been mandated to be kept indoors after the affected areas were placed in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. [25]

In October 2022, wildlife experts patrolling the Norfolk Broads were looking for swans that showed signs of being ill and had to euthanatize them on the spot. [26]

2023 outbreaks

In the beginning of the year, an outbreak of H5N8 began in Argentina. In February 2023, Argentina confirmed its first poultry case in Río Negro Province and decided to suspend poultry exports due to the case. By that date, other 25 cases had been detected in wild birds across the country. [27] Currently experts are predicting large outbreaks in penguin populations on Antarctica later this year.[ citation needed ]

Human cases confirmed

On 20 February 2021, Russian authorities reported the first known human cases of H5N8 as seven farm workers tested positive. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission and the cases were described as "mild" or asymptomatic. The World Health Organization was notified. [28] [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avian influenza</span> Influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds

Avian influenza, also known as avian flu or bird flu, is a disease caused by the influenza A virus, which primarily affects birds but can sometimes affect mammals including humans. Wild aquatic birds are the primary host of the influenza A virus, which is enzootic in many bird populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Influenza A virus subtype H5N1</span> Subtype of influenza A virus

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (A/H5N1) is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which causes influenza (flu), predominantly in birds. It is enzootic in many bird populations, and also panzootic. A/H5N1 virus can also infect mammals that have been exposed to infected birds; in these cases, symptoms are frequently severe or fatal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global spread of H5N1</span> Spread of bird flu

The global spread of H5N1 influenza in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat. While other H5N1 influenza strains are known, they are significantly different on a genetic level from a highly pathogenic, emergent strain of H5N1, which was able to achieve hitherto unprecedented global spread in 2008. The H5N1 strain is a fast-mutating, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) found in multiple bird species. It is both epizootic and panzootic. Unless otherwise indicated, "H5N1" in this timeline refers to the 2008 highly pathogenic strain of H5N1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transmission and infection of H5N1</span> Spread of an influenza virus

Transmission and infection of H5N1 from infected avian sources to humans has been a concern since the first documented case of human infection in 1997, due to the global spread of H5N1 that constitutes a pandemic threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Influenza A virus subtype H5N2</span> Virus subtype

H5 N2 is a subtype of the species Influenzavirus A. The subtype infects a wide variety of birds, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, falcons, and ostriches. Affected birds usually do not appear ill, and the disease is often mild as avian influenza viral subtypes go. Some variants of the subtype are much more pathogenic than others, and outbreaks of "high-path" H5N2 result in the culling of thousands of birds in poultry farms from time to time. It appears that people who work with birds can be infected by the virus, but suffer hardly any noticeable health effects. Even people exposed to the highly pathogenic H5N2 variety that killed ostrich chicks in South Africa only seem to have developed conjunctivitis, or a perhaps a mild respiratory illness. There is no evidence of human-to-human spread of H5N2. On November 12, 2005 it was reported that a falcon was found to have H5N2. On June 5, 2024, the first confirmed human case of H5N2 was reported in Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Influenza A virus subtype H7N7</span> Virus subtype

Influenza A virus subtype H7N7 (A/H7N7) is a subtype of Influenza A virus, a genus of Orthomyxovirus, the viruses responsible for influenza. Highly pathogenic strains (HPAI) and low pathogenic strains (LPAI) exist. H7N7 can infect humans, birds, pigs, seals, and horses in the wild; and has infected mice in laboratory studies. This unusual zoonotic potential represents a pandemic threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Influenza A virus subtype H5N8</span> Subtype of Influenza A virus, also known as Avian or Bird Flu

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social effects of H5N1</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global spread of H5N1 in 2006</span> 2006 worldwide disease outbreak

The global spread of H5N1 in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global spread of H5N1 in 2005</span> Pandemic threat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global spread of H5N1 in 2004</span>

The global spread of H5N1 in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Bernard Matthews H5N1 outbreak</span> Avian influenza outbreak in United Kingdom in 2007

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 H5N1 outbreak in West Bengal</span> Bird flu outbreak in India

The 2008 bird flu outbreak in West Bengal was an occurrence of avian influenza in West Bengal, India which began in January 2008. The infection was caused by the H5N1 subtype of the Influenza A virus and impacted at least thirteen districts, including Birbhum, Nadia, Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hooghly, Cooch Behar, Malda, Bankura, Purulia, Howrah, West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and South Dinajpur. A range of precautions were instituted including a large cull of chickens, eggs, and poultry birds, the imposition of segregation zones, and a disinfection programme for the plant. The government put a blanket ban on the movement of poultry birds from West Bengal 5 February 2008, but repealed it a week later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global spread of H5N1 in 2007</span>

The global spread of H5N1 in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Influenza A virus subtype H7N9</span> Subtype of the influenza A virus

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Influenza A virus subtype H5N6</span> Virus subtype

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–2024 H5N1 outbreak</span> Global outbreak of avian flu H5N1 in 2020–2024

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References

  1. ↑ "Saudi Arabia reports H5N8 bird flu on farm". Khaleej Times . 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Avian influenza overview – update on 19 November 2020, EU/EEA and the UK" (PDF). European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 19 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  3. ↑ Ophokplicht pluimvee vanwege nieuwe vogelgriep Archived 2020-11-25 at the Wayback Machine , NOS (22 October 2020)
  4. ↑ Vogelgriep rukt op, ook mensen kunnen rol spelen bij verspreiding Archived 2021-01-14 at the Wayback Machine , NOS (14 November 2020)
  5. ↑ "Update1-Germany may cull up to 70,000 chickens as bird flu found on another farm". SF. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Sweden culls over 3,000 turkeys as bird flu moves through northern Europe". The Poultry Site. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "South Korea confirms H5N8 bird flu in wild birds, issues warning". Reuters. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. ↑ China reports H5N8 bird flu in swans in Shanxi province: agriculture ministry Archived 2020-11-29 at the Wayback Machine Reuters
  9. ↑ "Norway to ban outdoor poultry after bird flu case". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020.
  10. ↑ South Korea reports bird flu outbreak on duck farm: OIE Archived 2021-01-03 at the Wayback Machine Reuters
  11. ↑ "Bird flu outbreak in Kerala: 50,000 birds to be culled in two districts". 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "Bird Flu in Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, MP: What We Know So Far". News18. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Bird flu detected in dead migratory birds in Himachal Pradesh; outbreak reported in four states now". Firstpost. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Dhaliwal, Tanbir (8 January 2021). "Death of over 4 lakh poultry birds in Panchkula's Barwala belt due to avian influenza". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Bird flu confirmed in seven states; samples from Delhi, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh sent for testing". The New Indian Express. PTI. 9 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Namibia suspends import, transit movement of live poultry from Europe due to avian flu outbreak". Xinhua . 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "Iraq reports H5N8 bird flu outbreak on farm - OIE". Reuters. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021– via www.reuters.com.
  18. ↑ "北京市发生野生天鹅H5N8亚型高致病性禽流感疫情". 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021– via www.moa.gov.cn.
  19. ↑ "Germany culls 14,000 turkeys after bird flu was found on another farm". Reuters. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Algeria reports H5N8 bird flu on farm -OIE". Reuters. 9 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Afghanistan reports H5N8 bird flu on farm: OIE". 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Bird flu outbreak: Protection zone declared in Warwickshire after disease detected". Sky News. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "Japan confirms season's 1st Avian flu outbreak, 143,000 birds to be culled". ANI News. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  24. ↑ Animal disease information. Avian influenza aphis.usda.gov Archived 16 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "Bird flu: Poultry in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex to be kept indoors". BBC News. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  26. ↑ "Swans on Norfolk Broads with symptoms of avian flu to be euthanised". BBC News. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "Argentina suspends poultry exports as first industrial case of bird flu confirmed". Reuters. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  28. ↑ "Russia reports first human cases of H5N8 bird flu". BNO News. 20 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "Human infection with avian influenza A (H5N8) – the Russian Federation". World Health Organization. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
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