The avian influenza virus continues to spread in the European Union and beyond, causing high mortality in wild birds, spreading to wild and domestic mammals and outbreaks on farms, according to a scientific report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published on Wednesday 3 April.
Experts have identified certain species of farmed fur animals (e.g. mink and foxes), which are highly susceptible to influenza viruses, as possible drivers for spread. According to experts, wild mammals could act as bridge hosts between wild birds, domestic animals and humans. Pets, such as cats, can also be a potential vehicle for transmission. Farming in areas rich in waterfowl can facilitate the introduction of the virus into farms and its spread. Extreme weather events and climate change can influence the way the disease develops over time, experts found.
Biosecurity on farms needs to be strengthened, say the scientists, to prevent animals coming into contact with the infection and spreading it.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/blz (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)