Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease mainly found in birds, but under certain circumstances infections can also occur in humans even though the risk is generally very low.
A risk assessment framework was developed to evaluate the zoonotic potential of avian influenza (AI), focusing on virus mutations linked to phenotypic traits related to mammalian adaptation identified in the literature.
Avian influenza viruses pose an increasing threat, with the potential to adapt to humans and trigger future pandemics. Employing a One Health approach, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have issued scientific advice that assesses avian influenza virus mutations and the potential of these viruses to spread to humans, along with recommendations for the animal and public health sectors.
The report should assist in developing guidance documents to facilitate coordinated One Health investigations and the management of outbreaks in humans and animals caused by zoonotic avian influenza viruses.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 1-7 February and includes updates on Mpox, Shigella sonnei, chikungunya, SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, yellow fever, avian influenza, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and an overview of respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EEA.
Between 21 September and 6 December 2024, 657 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus detections were reported in domestic (341) and wild (316) birds across 27 countries in Europe.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 24-31 January 2025, and includes updates on influenza A(H5N1), chikungunya, dengue, mpox, Marburg virus disease, suspected viral haemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ebola.
This reporting protocol describes data collection for human cases of zoonotic influenza viruses, with the aim to support assessment of key indicators and trends over time and inform situational risk assessments.