Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal & Plant Health Agency Advice Services Team - International Disease Monitoring

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Updated Outbreak Assessment #16

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK, and Europe 15 February 2021 Ref: VITT/1200 HPAI in the UK and Europe

Disease Report

Since our last report (on 08 February), in the United Kingdom; there has been one new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Scotland. There have been no new cases of HPAI H5N8 in wild birds in the UK. According to OIE, elsewhere in Europe since 08 February, HPAI H5N8 has been reported in poultry in the Czech Republic (2), Finland (1), Germany (4), Hungary (3), Luxembourg (4), Poland (3) and Ukraine (1). HPAI H5N8 in wild birds has been reported in Austria (1), Denmark (36), Finland (1), France (1), Latvia (1) and Poland (1). HPAI H5Nx (N untyped) has been reported in poultry in Bulgaria. HPAI H5N3 has been reported in wild birds in Denmark (1). HPAI H5N5 has been reported in wild birds in Austria (1) and Poland (1).

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Situation Assessment

Table 1: Summary of confirmed outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 in poultry and captive birds in the UK to 15 February 2021

Date HPAI H5N8

confirmed Location, County Description Status

HPAI H5N8 in Poultry

3 November

Near Frodsham, Cheshire

Broiler breeder rearer chickens

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

10 November

Near Leominster, Herefordshire

Broiler breeder chickens

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

23 November

Near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

Poultry and captive birds

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

29 November

Near Northallerton, Hambleton, North Yorkshire

Rearing turkeys All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under restriction as per OIE

recommendations

01 December

Near Northallerton, Hambleton, North Yorkshire

Rearing turkeys All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under restriction as per OIE

recommendations

04 December

Near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk

Rearing turkeys All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

05 December

Near King’s Lynn, Norfolk

Rearing turkeys All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

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Date HPAI H5N8

confirmed Location, County Description Status

15 December

Near Willington, Derbyshire

Captive birds and poultry

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

19 December

Island of Sanday, Orkney Islands

Small commercial free range laying flock

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

19 December

Near Gillingham, North Dorset

Backyard poultry All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

20 December

Near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk

Commercial duck premises

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

28 December

Near Great Ellingham, Norfolk

Backyard poultry All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

28 December

Near Ickburgh, Norfolk

Commercial duck rearing premises

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

29 December

Near Aylesbeare, Devon

Backyard poultry All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

06 January

Ballymena, County Antrim

Commercial layer rearer premises

All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

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Date HPAI H5N8

confirmed Location, County Description Status

12 January

Lisburn, County Antrim

Commercial layer All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under

restriction as per OIE recommendations

28 January

Near Amlwch, Isle of Anglesey, Wales

Game bird rearing premises

A Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone have been put

in place around the infected premises; surveillance is ongoing

06 February

Near Redcar, Redcar and Cleveland

Commercial layer A Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone have been put

in place around the infected premises; surveillance is ongoing

HPAI H5N8 in Captive Birds

20 November

Near Stroud, Gloucestershire

Captive birds All surveillance and sampling on IP completed, zones lifted.

13 December

Near Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire

Captive birds No zones implemented

Table 2: Summary of confirmed outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in poultry and captive birds in the UK to 15 February 2021.

Date HPAI H5N1 confirmed

Location, County

Description Status

18 December

Near Hawes, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire

Backyard chickens All surveillance completed, zones lifted, premises remain under restriction as per OIE recommendations

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11 February

Near Glenrothes, Scotland

Game bird rearing and breeding premises

A Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises; surveillance is ongoing

Since our last report on 08 February, there has been one new outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in domestic poultry reported in GB; at a game bird rearing and breeding premises in Scotland.

To 15 February 2021, there have been fourteen outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 in poultry confirmed on premises in England; one outbreak confirmed on a premises in Scotland; and one outbreak confirmed in Wales. There have also been two reports of HPAI H5N8 in captive birds in England (Table 1), one report of H5N1 in backyard chickens, in England; and the new report of H5N1 in gamebirds in Scotland (Table 2).

Since our last report on 08 February, in Northern Ireland, there have been no new outbreaks of HPAI confirmed in domestic poultry or wild birds.

The total number of HPAI outbreaks in poultry and/or captive birds in the UK to 15 February, is 22.

The above map shows the concentration of wild bird cases in north-western Europe, with relatively few in southern or central Europe. To 15 February, a total of 311 HPAI cases have been reported in wild birds in the UK (see Table 3 below), with most in England; only a few in Scotland and Wales; and nine cases in NI (please note – there have been no new findings in wild birds in NI since our last report, however report numbers have been updated).

For further details, please see the report (updated weekly) on findings of HPAI in wild birds in GB at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-in-wild-birds and NI at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/avian-influenza-ai#toc-11

Table 3: Wild bird cases in England, Wales, and Scotland that have tested positive for HPAI H5N1, H5N5, H5N8 and H5Nx to 15 February 2021 (no change from the previous report). Pathogenicity testing has not been completed for all samples as yet.

Row Labels H5N1 H5N5 H5N8 H5N3 H5Nx Grand Total England 10 1 258 7 276

Black Swan 11 11 Brent Goose 6 6 Buzzard 3 1 4 Canada Goose 1 24 25

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Row Labels H5N1 H5N5 H5N8 H5N3 H5Nx Grand Total Great White Egret 1 1 Grey Heron 1 1 Greylag goose 8 2 10 Herring Gull 2 2 Kestrel 1 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull 1 1 Lesser Black headed Gull 1 1 Mixed Avian 1 1 Mute Swan 8 1 155 1 165 Peregrine Falcon 2 2 Pink footed goose 2 2 Shelduck 1 1 Sparrow Hawk 1 1 Unspecified 1 1 Unspecified Goose 1 1 Unspecified Swan 11 11 Whooper Swan 21 2 23 Wigeon 1 1 Common Buzzard 1 2 3 Red Kite 1 1

Wales 5 1 6 Little Grebe 1 1 Mute Swan 5 5

Scotland 17 2 19 Greylag goose 1 1 Mute Swan 7 7 Unspecified Swan 4 4 Whooper Swan 4 4 Knot 1 1 Red Knot 1 1 2

Northern Ireland 9 Peregrine Falcon 1 Unspecified Swan 6 Whooper Swan 2 Grand Total 10 6 284 1 9 311

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HPAI in Europe since 08 February 2021

Table 4: Current outbreaks of HPAI H5 in domestic poultry and cases in wild birds (since 08 February), in Europe, excluding the UK, according to OIE reporting. Please note that this is a rapidly changing picture, with new disease reports being made to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on a regular basis.

Country

H5 H5N3 H5N5 H5N8

Total

Poultry Wild Birds

Wild Birds

Poultry Wild Birds

Austria 1 1 2

Bulgaria 4 4

Czech Republic

2 2

Denmark 1 36 37

Finland 1 1 2

France 1 1

Germany 4 4

Hungary 3 3

Latvia 1 1

Luxembourg 4 4

Poland 1 3 1 5

Ukraine 1 1

Total 4 1 2 18 41 66

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Since 08 February, Austria has reported one case of HPAI H5N8 in wild birds. This was in the state of Vienna and the species affected was a Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). Austria also reported a case of HPAI H5N5 in a second wild Mute Swan; this was in its south-east state of Styria.

Bulgaria has reported four outbreaks of HPAI H5 in poultry. All were in its central-northern province of Pleven. Two of the outbreaks were at commercial Pekin duck premises, with both being the result of active surveillance following a nearby outbreak (the bird-type of which is unlisted on OIE). The remaining outbreak was at a premises of broiler breeders.

Czech Republic has reported two cases of HPAI H5N8 in poultry. These were in the regions of Pardubice and Central Bohemia. Both were backyard premises containing chickens, ducks and geese.

Denmark has reported 36 cases of HPAI H5N8 in wild birds. Of these, 29 were in the West of Denmark (predominantly Jutland), and seven in the East. Affected species include Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) and Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus). Denmark has also reported one case of HPAI H5N3 in its West. The species affected was a Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).

Finland has reported one outbreak of HPAI H5N8 in poultry and one case of HPAI H5N8 in wild birds. Both were in the province of Southern Finland. The poultry premises contained farmed game birds (pheasants: approximately 1,335 birds), and the affected wild bird species was a dead Mute Swan (Cygnus olor).

France has reported one case of HPAI H5N8 in wild birds. This was in the department of Ardennes. Species affected were a House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), and a Common Magpie (Pica pica).

Germany has reported four outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 in poultry. These were in the regions of Bayern, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and included two turkey farms (19,000 and 14,500 birds) and a broiler breeder premises (44,000 birds). The remaining outbreak was a small, backyard premises of chickens and ducks.

Hungary has reported three outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 in poultry. All were in the county of Bacs-Kiskun, and all were in commercial premises of laying hens (populated with between 26,000 and 45,000 birds).

Latvia has reported one case of HPAI H5N8 in wild birds. This was in the republic city of Jûrmala and species affected were two Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), both of which were found dead.

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Luxembourg has reported four cases of HPAI H5N8 in poultry. These were in the regions of Diekirch, Capellen, Luxembourg and Mersch, and contained laying hens, broilers, geese, quails and pigeons.

Poland has reported three outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 in poultry. These were in the provinces of Swietokrzyskie (a backyard premises), Warminsko-Mazurskie (a turkey premises) and Wielkopolskie (laying hens). Poland also reported one case of HPAI H5N8 in wild birds (in the province of Kujawsko-Pomorskie): species affected a Garganey (Spatula querquedula); and one case of HPAI H5N5 in wild birds (also in Kujawsko-Pomorskie): species affected a Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula).

Ukraine has reported one outbreak of HPAI H5N8 in poultry. This was in the province of Donetsk (and inside the 3km protection zone of a previous outbreaks). OIE does not report the bird type or species.

Implications for the UK

The detection of four HPAI H5 subtypes in the same epidemic event is unparalleled in the UK. All these viruses are genetically closely related through their H5 haemagglutinin gene, which is the key viral gene influencing pathogenesis, host range, transmission, and host immunity. Continued virus change by genetic reassortment in wild birds is not unexpected, and further genetic variation at genome level may be expected as the epidemic progresses. Surveillance within the disease control zones continues, and results of investigations will be published in a comprehensive epidemiological report.

The migration season for wild waterfowl to overwinter in the UK has ended. A large population of migratory waterfowl are still present however, and will not be leaving the UK until March/April. Moreover, the higher survival rate of the virus in the environment during winter means the risk of environmental transmission remains, and hence the continued risk of secondary spread into indigenous UK wild bird species. Higher environmental temperatures, together with increasing sunlight intensities, will reduce environmental levels of HPAI virus and its associated risks, in the spring.

Monitoring weekly trends in disease reporting over the next few weeks is important with regard to the emergence of a second peak of disease in the UK and Europe, which occurred at this time of year in the 2016/17 H5N8 epizootic. The recent cold spell in north-west Europe could have driven more birds to UK, particularly into Eastern England, with the easterly winds from the Netherlands/Denmark. Wild bird cases in Ireland may be of note, as some species will be migrating eastwards through England/Wales in the next few weeks, although the whooper swans which have contributed to the cases will be heading north.

The EU Reference laboratory (IZSVe 2021) data collated from ADNS for the EU 27 (to 9 am on 15 Feb 21), shows an increase in the number of wild bird cases from the end of January to middle of February, with the number of cases increasing from ~30 per week to

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~50 per week. This suggests the start of a second peak. However, it is worth noting that most of these were from January, and two even from mid-December, thus making it more difficult to assess whether this is an artefact, or if wild bird cases are actually increasing. It is also interesting to note the increasing number of indigenous bird species being reported in Europe, including mute swans, magpies and house sparrows; in addition to birds of prey such as kestrels.

Following confirmation of cases of both HPAI H5N8 and H5N1, and low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H5N2, in poultry, the UK is no longer free from notifiable avian influenza under the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) rules.

Where disease is confirmed, measures are put in place in accordance with Council Directive 2005/94/EC. The EU will put safeguard measures in place, meaning that no trade with the EU in live poultry or poultry products will be permitted from disease control zones.

Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low from all three HPAI strains detected and characterised to date (H5N8, H5N5, H5N1), and the Food Standards Agency has said that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

International Trade

All outbreaks have been reported to the OIE to provide the necessary transparency required for maintaining international trade. Although the UK has temporarily lost its OIE country freedom status from HPAI, it is applying effective regionalisation as well as compartmentalisation, in order to maintain safe trade from unaffected populations of high value, and high biosecurity, commercial poultry. This is supported by the ongoing surveillance, as well as the safeguards applied via the APHA Centre for International Trade, and the rigorous and standardised certification process by Official Veterinarians.

Conclusion

The risk of HPAI incursion in wild birds in GB remains VERY HIGH. The overall risk of exposure of poultry in GB remains MEDIUM (with stringent biosecurity) TO HIGH (where biosecurity is not adequate).

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is in place in England, Scotland and Wales and the UK Chief Veterinary Officer, alongside the CVOs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are urging bird keepers across the UK to take additional biosecurity measures; in order to prevent further outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK.

It is a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease. These housing measures build on the strengthened biosecurity regulations that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) on 11 November 2020.

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If you keep poultry (including game birds or as pets), you should follow our biosecurity best practice advice, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#biosecurity-advice Remain vigilant for any signs of disease in your flock and report any sign of avian influenza to Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

Further information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu including updated biosecurity advice for poultry keepers for England; https://gov.wales/avian-influenza for Wales and; http://gov.scot/avianinfluenza for Scotland. The OIE/FAO International Reference Laboratory/UK National Reference Laboratory at Weybridge has the necessary ongoing proven diagnostic capability for these strains of virus, whether low or high pathogenicity AI, and continually monitors changes in the virus. We will continue to report on any updates on the situation in Europe and, in particular, any changes in disease distribution or wild bird movements which may increase the risk to the UK. We ask that the public use the Defra helpline (Tel: 03459 33 55 77) to report findings of any dead wild birds. In particular, any wild ducks, wild geese, swans, gulls, or birds of prey.

Authors

Anthony Pacey

Charlotte Coxon

Dr Paul Gale

Dr Francesca Gauntlett

Dr Clare Wild

References All outbreaks and cases were taken from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Please note that changes in format and level of detail are due to the change of data source for this report, from EU’s Animal Disease Notification System (ADNS) to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/avian-influenza-ai https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#trade-import-and-export-issues IZSVe (2021). https://www.izsvenezie.com/reference-laboratories/avian-influenza-newcastle-disease/europe-update/

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