ECDC initiated a survey of EU/EEA countries to evaluate preparedness planning and risk mitigation initiatives implemented at the country level for people exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1).
The aim of this survey was to review the expertise, capabilities and capacities for detection and characterisation of avian and other zoonotic influenza viruses in national influenza reference laboratories in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), in members of the European Reference Laboratories for influenza (ERLINet), and in EU Enlargement policy countries.
This Threat Assessment Brief considers the risk of infection related to avian influenza A(H5N8) virus to the general population and the occupationally exposed.
A recently published study conducted between 2011 and 2018 in China, and based on surveillance data in pigs, identified an emerging genotype 4 (G4) reassortant Eurasian avian-like (EA) A(H1N1) swine influenza virus that contains internal genes from the human A(H1N1)pdm09 and North American triple-reassortant (TR) lineage-derived internal genes.
Since the notification of a novel reassortant influenza A(H7N9) virus on 31 March 2013, 1 548 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus have been reported.
This rapid risk assessment builds on the fifth update of the ECDC rapid risk assessments on avian influenza published on 27 January 2017 [1] and on the recent public health development dated 24 February 2017.
Fifth update of the risk assessment on human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, summarising the epidemiological and virological information on the disease in China and Canada, and assessing the risk to public health in the EU/EEA.
This Rapid Risk Assessment summarises the epidemiological, virological and environmental information relating to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype A(H5N8) in Europe up to 15 November 2016.
Human cases and fatalities due to influenza A(H5N1) virus continue to increase in Egypt, with cases from the country now accounting for the highest number of human cases reported worldwide.