Bird flu outbreak in Hungarian counties, all parts of the country at risk

In order to prevent the virus from spreading to poultry, their contact must be minimised, they stressed.

They added that

all parts of the country are at risk because wild birds can carry the infection anywhere.

According to the statement, the veterinary decision on minimum control conditions remains in force and compliance with it is mandatory for all poultry keepers.

This means that poultry must be fed and watered indoors, and feed and bedding materials must be stored indoors, they said.

they noted that information on the spread of the virus and the most important things to know can be found on the Avian Influenza page of the Nébih website.

Where outbreaks occur in domestic birds, it is often the policy to cull all poultry, whether infected or healthy, to contain the spread of avian influenza. This represents heavy economic losses for farmers and a long-lasting impact on their livelihoods.

Migratory wild birds especially waterfowl, are natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses and they play a role in the spread the viruses across large geographical areas and also becomes victims of the disease.

Avian influenza is also a major concern for public health. Whenever avian influenza viruses circulate in poultry, sporadic cases of avian influenza in humans are sometimes identified. (Source: World Organisation for Animal Health)

Germany reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu on a farm in the eastern region of Saxony near the border with the Czech Republic, Reuters reported, citing the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on Monday.

The outbreak killed 76 out of a flock of 184 birds in the town of Muldenhammer in Saxony, Paris-based WOAH said, citing a report from German authorities.

Bird flu can be deadly for poultry and has ravaged farm flocks worldwide in recent years. Health officials are also grappling with transmission beyond birds, including among dairy cows in the United States.

The WOAH's situation reports can be found here, with the latest n update of the high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) situation for the six-week period between 13 July and 23 August available here.

The current HPAI season continues with 13 outbreaks being reported in poultry and 52 in nonpoultry birds and mammals over the six weeks covered by the report, in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. More than 1.6 million poultry birds died or were culled during the 6-week period, mostly in the Americas.

HPAI in poultry in Europe:

H5: a recurrence started in France (Bretagne) on 7 August 2024. H5N1: A recurrence started in Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) on 11 August 2024. A recurrence started in Poland (Lubuskie) on 21 August 2024.

HPAI in non-poultry in Europe:

H5N1 in non-poultry birds: six recurrences started in Portugal A recurrence started in Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) on 23 July. 2024 A recurrence started in Denmark (Veterinary Inspection Unit East) on 12 August 2024

During the period covered by this report, a total of 54 outbreaks in non-poultry birds and mammals were reported through WAHIS by 10 countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America).

Countries are recommended to:

• increase surveillance efforts for the early detection of A(H5) influenza viruses in domestic and wild birds.
• include infection with an A(H5) influenza virus as a differential diagnosis, in non-avian species, including cattle and other livestock and farmed domestic and wild animal populations, with high risk of exposure to A(H5) viruses.
• report promptly HPAI events in all animal species, including unusual hosts, to WOAH share genetic sequences of avian influenza viruses and associated metadata in publicly available databases.
• prevent the introduction and spread of the disease in animals by implementing biosecurity in livestock holdings/premises and along the value chain; and
• employ good production and hygiene practices when handling animal products and protect persons in contact with suspected/infected animals.

If you want to learn about avian influenza in humans, click here for the dedicated page of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Cover image (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images