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Avian flu: what is the situation in France and around the world?
Public Health France publishes an epidemiological update on the circulation of avian influenza viruses and recalls the recommendations to follow to protect oneself in the event of exposure to risk.
Posted on March 1, 2023
...
Epidemiological situation of influenza and avian flu
Avian influenza: an unprecedented epizootic that affects almost all continents
Since October 2021, Europe has been suffering the most devastating highly pathogenic avian influenza epizootic it has ever seen . Numerous outbreaks, overwhelmingly due to the A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus, have been identified in domestic poultry and wild birds, leading to the slaughter of several million birds and causing mass mortality events in wild birds . The geographical extent of this epizootic is also unprecedented, with almost all of the continents affected (in particular Europe, Asia, the Americas and to a lesser extent Africa).
In France, since August 2022, more than 300 outbreaks in livestock have been detected, more than three quarters of which are concentrated in the Pays de la Loire region in an area with a high density of poultry farms. In wild birds, the number of cases has also increased sharply in France in 2022-2023 with hundreds of infected birds found dead on the territory , and an endemization of the bird infection which extends to birds. non-migratory.
Learn more :
The intense and continuous circulation of these viruses in wild birds has led to the frequent introduction of the virus into populations of poultry and captive birds, but also into about twenty different species of terrestrial and marine mammals, wild and domestic. Hundreds of infected mammals have been found dead or on the verge of death, with frequent detection of neurological damage. Mammal-to-mammal transmission has been suggested in infections of seals in the United States (Puryear et al., 2022), mink in Spain (Agüero et al., 2023) and sea lions in Peru(reference under BioRxiv Gamatta-Toledo et al: First Mass Mortality of Marine Mammals Caused by Highly Pathogenic Influenza Virus (H5N1) in South America (biorxiv.org)).
In France, at the end of December 2022, a sick cat tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in Deux-Sèvres . ANSES was actively involved in the investigation of this case, which made it possible to identify the neighboring duck farm as being the source of the cat's contamination. Investigations have also taken place with people who have been exposed to the infected cat, to ensure that they have not been contaminated. The first analyzes did not reveal any acute infection among the exposed people. Additional serological analyzes are in progress to confirm the absence of contamination of exposed persons.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers that the risk of transmission to humans of avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential currently circulating is low and no human-to-human transmission has been documented. Nevertheless, the increased frequency of transmission of these viruses to mammals of various species increases the risk of emergence of a new influenza virus better adapted to humans and capable of human-to-human transmission.
Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza of clade 2.3.4.4b in humans: rare contaminations but which call for increased vigilance
Several detections of the A(H5N1) virus or the H5Nx subtype belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b have been confirmed in humans since the end of 2021 (Spain, UK, United States, China, Vietnam and Ecuador). No case has currently been diagnosed in France. The number of human cases detected remains low given the intensity of the global epizootic linked to these viruses.
The first human cases detected were identified during an active search for infection by this virus in people exposed to an outbreak in domestic birds due to this virus, while the most recent were exposed to low-income poultry. yard sick or dead. The clinical forms ranged from mild or even asymptomatic symptoms, to severe forms with admission to intensive care and death. To date, no human-to-human transmission has been demonstrated.
Recently, two human cases of A(H5N1) virus infection were detected in Cambodia . According to the WHO , the viral strain in question does not belong to clade 2.3.4.4b, but to another clade (2.3.2.1c), endemic to Cambodia for several years.
In view of the current context, Public Health France recommends:
https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/...e-est-la-situation-en-france-et-dans-le-monde
Avian flu: what is the situation in France and around the world?
Public Health France publishes an epidemiological update on the circulation of avian influenza viruses and recalls the recommendations to follow to protect oneself in the event of exposure to risk.
Posted on March 1, 2023
...
Epidemiological situation of influenza and avian flu
Avian influenza: an unprecedented epizootic that affects almost all continents
Since October 2021, Europe has been suffering the most devastating highly pathogenic avian influenza epizootic it has ever seen . Numerous outbreaks, overwhelmingly due to the A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus, have been identified in domestic poultry and wild birds, leading to the slaughter of several million birds and causing mass mortality events in wild birds . The geographical extent of this epizootic is also unprecedented, with almost all of the continents affected (in particular Europe, Asia, the Americas and to a lesser extent Africa).
In France, since August 2022, more than 300 outbreaks in livestock have been detected, more than three quarters of which are concentrated in the Pays de la Loire region in an area with a high density of poultry farms. In wild birds, the number of cases has also increased sharply in France in 2022-2023 with hundreds of infected birds found dead on the territory , and an endemization of the bird infection which extends to birds. non-migratory.
Learn more :
- On the situation of outbreaks of avian influenza in France , Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
- On the situation at European and international level , EFSA (European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety Authority)
- Avian flu file , Public Health France
The intense and continuous circulation of these viruses in wild birds has led to the frequent introduction of the virus into populations of poultry and captive birds, but also into about twenty different species of terrestrial and marine mammals, wild and domestic. Hundreds of infected mammals have been found dead or on the verge of death, with frequent detection of neurological damage. Mammal-to-mammal transmission has been suggested in infections of seals in the United States (Puryear et al., 2022), mink in Spain (Agüero et al., 2023) and sea lions in Peru(reference under BioRxiv Gamatta-Toledo et al: First Mass Mortality of Marine Mammals Caused by Highly Pathogenic Influenza Virus (H5N1) in South America (biorxiv.org)).
In France, at the end of December 2022, a sick cat tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in Deux-Sèvres . ANSES was actively involved in the investigation of this case, which made it possible to identify the neighboring duck farm as being the source of the cat's contamination. Investigations have also taken place with people who have been exposed to the infected cat, to ensure that they have not been contaminated. The first analyzes did not reveal any acute infection among the exposed people. Additional serological analyzes are in progress to confirm the absence of contamination of exposed persons.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers that the risk of transmission to humans of avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential currently circulating is low and no human-to-human transmission has been documented. Nevertheless, the increased frequency of transmission of these viruses to mammals of various species increases the risk of emergence of a new influenza virus better adapted to humans and capable of human-to-human transmission.
Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza of clade 2.3.4.4b in humans: rare contaminations but which call for increased vigilance
Several detections of the A(H5N1) virus or the H5Nx subtype belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b have been confirmed in humans since the end of 2021 (Spain, UK, United States, China, Vietnam and Ecuador). No case has currently been diagnosed in France. The number of human cases detected remains low given the intensity of the global epizootic linked to these viruses.
The first human cases detected were identified during an active search for infection by this virus in people exposed to an outbreak in domestic birds due to this virus, while the most recent were exposed to low-income poultry. yard sick or dead. The clinical forms ranged from mild or even asymptomatic symptoms, to severe forms with admission to intensive care and death. To date, no human-to-human transmission has been demonstrated.
Recently, two human cases of A(H5N1) virus infection were detected in Cambodia . According to the WHO , the viral strain in question does not belong to clade 2.3.4.4b, but to another clade (2.3.2.1c), endemic to Cambodia for several years.
- Learn more about the epidemiological situation of avian flu in Europe , ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control)
In view of the current context, Public Health France recommends:
- do not touch dead or injured animals and report them to the Departmental Office for Biodiversity or the Federation of Hunters and inform the town hall;
- protect themselves individually (gloves, mask, hand washing) in the event of contact with wild birds such as the collection of dead wild birds or during occupational exposure to birds suspected of infection;
- get vaccinated against the seasonal flu every year if you are a professional exposed to swine and avian influenza viruses . Simultaneous infection by an avian or swine influenza virus and a human influenza virus could in fact lead to the emergence of a new influenza virus contagious for humans;
- consult your doctor immediately in the event of symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue, breathing difficulties, neurological disorders), within 10 days of exposure to risk (contact with wild or domestic birds, with sick or dead wild mammals, or more pigs with the flu).
For health professionals : it is requested to immediately report any suspected case of zoonotic influenza to the health authorities in order to classify the patient or not as a possible case and to put in place the appropriate management measures.
https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/...e-est-la-situation-en-france-et-dans-le-monde