ECDC publishes avian influenza overview for September to December 2021

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published an overview of avian influenza for the period from September to December 2021. Between 16 September and 8 December 2021, 867 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus detections were reported in 27 EU and EEA countries, and the UK. This included 316 cases in poultry, 523 in wild birds and 28 in captive birds. The majority of the detections in wild birds were reported by Germany with 280 cases, Netherlands with 65 cases and the UK with 53 cases.

Since the last ECDC avian influenza summary report in September 2021, 13 human infections due to HPAI A(H5N6) and two human cases due to A(H9N2) low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus have been reported from China. 

The risk of infection to the general population in EU and EEA countries is assessed as low, and for occupationally exposed people, low to medium, with large uncertainty due to the high diversity of circulating viruses in the bird populations.

Source: ECDC, 22 December 2021