Avian flu among poultry in Europe has never been as severe in recent decades. The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza has already been detected in some 3,500 outbreak locations among poultry, and more than 48 million animals have had to be culled.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) states that although avian flu occurs year after year, the past three seasons have shown very high levels of infection. Moreover, infections are now being detected throughout the entire year, not only from October to March, as was the case in the past.
With the onset of autumn and the start of bird migration, many countries fear new outbreaks. The infections mainly occur in the coastal countries, both on the North Sea and Baltic Sea as well as on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The ECDC reports that in Europe, the Netherlands, Poland, and France are particularly hard hit this season.
European authorities fear that this dangerous variant has established a foothold in Europe. Infection with highly pathogenic avian flu leads to very severe disease and rapid death among infected poultry, in contrast to low pathogenic avian flu, which causes milder illness in the animals.
Trials are currently being conducted both at WUR in Wageningen and at a French research institute for the development of a vaccine. Within the European Union, consideration is being given to possible vaccination of all poultry, provided that it is permitted under international veterinary agreements. So far, the export of vaccinated food products is not allowed.