Brussels, 18/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - The panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted a scientific statement on 12 April highlighting the role of migratory birds in the spread of the highly pathogenic bird flu virus (H5N1) among domestic and wild bird populations in the European Union. EFSA also presents a series of recommendations on how to reduce the risk of the virus spreading among domestic fowl. The AHAW will be issuing a more complete scientific opinion on 26 and 27 April.
According to the scientific statement by the EFSA animal health panel, some species of wild birds carry the H5N1 virus (mainly water birds such as ducks and swans) and may therefore be considered as responsible for bringing avian influenza to the EU. EFSA states there is increasing evidence that H5N1 can be present in several species of wild birds such as ducks, sparrows and swans, without such birds showing clinical signs of the disease. It concludes that there is therefore a high probability that the virus could be carried over long distances by wild birds and especially migratory birds. AHAW has drawn up a list of species of wild birds which, after a period of migration outside the EU, are the most likely to transmit the H5N1 virus to other bird species within the EU. This list mainly includes various species of swan, goose, duck and gull. It also identifies species of birds living near domestic birds (geese, mallard, duck, pigeon, sparrow, starling and gull), which could therefore spread the H5N1 virus into EU farms. EFSA experts consider that free range and farmyard fowl are exposed to a high risk of contamination from wild birds. “While the risk is considered to be low for indoor poultry holdings, those situated near wetlands are considered to be more at risk”, AHAW points out.
In order to reduce H5N1 transmission from wild birds to domestic birds within the EU, EFSA recommends stepping up surveillance of wild birds in the EU and reviewing biosecurity measures to be implemented by poultry holdings. Above all it recommends: - evaluating hygiene measures in poultry holdings; - preventing access of wild birds to poultry holdings; - ensuring that poultry does not have access to water and feed accessible to wild birds; - avoiding the location of new poultry units near migratory waterfowl refuges and strengthening biosecurity measures for existing ones situated close to these; - keeping poultry inside in areas where H5N1 infection is likely to pose a threat; - and, in the areas where there is an outbreak, suspending the hunting of wild waterfowl and encouraging the public to take basic hygiene precautions.
(The full text of the scientific statement may be consulted on the EFSA website at: http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/ahaw/ahaw_opinions/1438_en.html ).