Avian influenza

Subject: Avian influenza

HPAIV A(H5N1) is highly infectious in many avian species, including most domestic poultry species. Unlike most other avian influenza viruses, it has also infected mammals, with cows and goats recently joining the list of susceptible species. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that high concentrations of the virus strain have also been detected in raw milk from infected cows. As a result, variant A(H5N1) has become a ‘global zoonotic pandemic’ and the WHO has recognised the threat of avian influenza as being of ‘enormous concern’.

1. While avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans (although human infections do occasionally occur), what monitoring measures has the Commission put in place regarding the way in which the virus is evolving and developing its infection capacity, and what crisis measures is it planning should the virus become capable of broader transmission?

2. Tests carried out by US government agencies (FDA) on commercial pasteurised cow’s milk showed genetic evidence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. However, the polymerase chain reaction tests carried out cannot distinguish a live virus from virus fragments, which could have been killed in the pasteurisation process, so there is no clear position as regards the threat. Has the Commission drawn up an emergency procedure for the eventuality that a virus in this form presents a threat to public health?

Submitted:25.4.2024

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission (17 June 2024)

In accordance with the EU provisions on Union surveillance programmes (1) for avian influenza, the competent authorities must carry out surveillance activities in kept or wild animals of mammalian species when the epidemiological situation indicates that these animals may constitute a risk for animal and human health.

This surveillance also aims for the monitoring of the potential zoonotic risk posed by avian influenza viruses and is performed in accordance with the guidance (2) of the EU Reference Laboratory for avian influenza.

The EU legislation for animal health (3) provides for harmonised measures for the prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds, that are applied by all Member States (e.g. culling and safe disposal of animals and their products from the affected establishment, demarcation of a restricted zone around an affected establishment, movement restrictions and mitigation measures for animals and animal products from the restricted zone).

These measures may also be applied when HPAI is detected as an emerging disease in mammals, if decided by the competent authorities depending on the gravity of the situation.

The Commission is closely monitoring the epidemiological situation and has all the tools at hand to take emergency measures at EU level if needed to protect public or animal health.

In addition, the evolution of the virus is regularly assessed by the European Food Safety Authority, the European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Quarterly scientific reports (4) are published in this regard where recommendations are provided in accordance with the identified risk.

1 ∙ ⸱ Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the

Council as regards rules for surveillance, eradication programmes, and disease-free status for certain listed and emerging diseases (ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/689/2023-10-11). 2 ∙ ⸱

https://www.izsvenezie.com/documents/reference-laboratories/avian-influenza/useful-resources/guidance-representative-genomic-avian-influenza-virus.pdf 3 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj). 4 ∙ ⸱ https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/avian-influenza#group-latest-work