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The results of two, as yet unpublished, investigations of laboratory-induced genetic changes in avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have been reported to have found that a surprisingly few number of changes make the viruses transmissible between ferrets, the most commonly used model for the way influenza behaves in humans. The possibility that this could have resulted in the development in laboratories of A(H5N1) influenza viruses transmissible between humans has caused concern for public safety and generated unusually high levels of debate in the scientific community. This report summarises and explains the complex public health and scientific issues around these developments including the positive and negative aspects of some of the responses that have been proposed internationally.

This second update to ECDC's initial risk assessment concludes that the risk of the disease spreading to Europe via humans or through poultry is still low at this time.

The document determines the risk to human health in Europe from highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in birds and animals and identifies areas requiring additional scientific and public health work both as single pieces of work and for risk monitoring by ECDC and its partners.

The objective of this revised document is to further determine the risk to human health in Europe from highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in birds and animals. Specifically the additional risk that arises from the recent emergence and extension of A/H5N1 viruses into the European Union and elsewhere in the world, and the changed biology of the viruses among wild and domestic birds.