Avian Influenza: A New Threat to Public Health in Europe
The Natural Reservoir of Influenza A Strains
The natural reservoir of influenza A strains is a diverse pool of viruses among aquatic wild bird populations.
Avian Influenza Overview March-June 2024
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have reported that the 2021-2022 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemic season is the largest and most devastating in Europe's history.
Between October 2021 and September 2022, Europe experienced an unprecedented number of HPAI outbreaks, resulting in the culling of millions of poultry and wild birds.
Implications for Public Health
The HPAI epidemic has raised concerns about its potential impact on public health, as some strains of avian influenza can also infect humans.
While the risk of human infection with HPAI is currently considered low, health officials are monitoring the situation closely and urging people to take precautions to avoid exposure to the virus.
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