No human cases of avian influenza were reported in the EU/EEA. Only two human A(H7N9) infections were reported from China, a significant decrease compared with 2017. Sporadic human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) and A(H9N2) were reported from China. In 2018, outbreaks and detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses such as A(H5N1), A(H5N2), AH(H5N5), A(H5N6) or A(H5N8) continued to affect poultry and wild and captured birds worldwide, but on a lower scale than in 2017. Influenza viruses A(H1N2)v and A(H3N2)v of swine origin caused human cases in Australia and the United States.

No human cases of avian influenza were reported in the EU/EEA. Sporadic cases were reported from Africa and Asia.

The “Avian influenza overview” report is published quarterly and provide an update of the developments of avian influenza viruses in EU/EEA and worldwide, in particular with a view to describe the evolution of virus spread from certain regions towards the EU. In case of significant changes in the epidemiology of avian influenza, these reports could be needed more frequently.

The “Avian influenza overview” report is published quarterly and provide an update of the developments of avian influenza viruses in EU/EEA and worldwide, in particular with a view to describe the evolution of virus spread from certain regions towards the EU. In case of significant changes in the epidemiology of avian influenza, these reports could be needed more frequently.

The “Avian influenza overview” report is published quarterly and provide an update of the developments of avian influenza viruses in EU/EEA and worldwide, in particular with a view to describe the evolution of virus spread from certain regions towards the EU. In case of significant changes in the epidemiology of avian influenza, these reports could be needed more frequently.

The report is published jointly by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian influenza (EURL). Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in birds, including domestic poultry. Avian influenza is mainly found in birds, but under certain circumstances infections can also occur in humans even though the risk is generally very low.

No human cases of avian influenza were reported in the EU/EEA. Human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) were reported from Egypt and A(H7N9) infections from mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Taiwan.

The “Avian influenza overview” report is published quarterly and provide an update of the developments of avian influenza viruses in EU/EEA and worldwide, in particular with a view to describe the evolution of virus spread from certain regions towards the EU. In case of significant changes in the epidemiology of avian influenza, these reports could be needed more frequently.

The report is published jointly by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian influenza (EURL). Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in birds, including domestic poultry. Avian influenza is mainly found in birds, but under certain circumstances infections can also occur in humans even though the risk is generally very low.

ECDC’s annual surveillance reports provide a wealth of epidemiological data to support decision-making at the national level. They are mainly intended for public health professionals and policymakers involved in disease prevention and control programmes.

In the course of the 2016–17 influenza season, over 146 000 influenza detections across the WHO Europe Region have been reported.