According to data from the EU health authority ECDC, the latest bird flu epidemic is the worst ever recorded in Europe. According to a report published Monday, nearly 2,500 outbreaks were identified on poultry farms in the 2021/2022 season and 48 million animals were culled there. More than 3,500 cases have been identified in wild birds.
The geographic scope of the outbreak is also unique, stretching from Spitsbergen to Portugal and Ukraine. 37 European countries are affected. Nearly 190 cases have been recorded in animals kept elsewhere, such as zoos.
Danger to people very low
Animal influenza viruses can sporadically infect humans and cause mild to severe illness, according to ECDC. The viruses can have a major impact on the health of the population, past examples show. Despite the strong spread and despite bird flu infections in mammals, there has been no transmission to humans in the European Economic Area in recent years.
Worldwide there were only a small number without symptoms or with mild cures. Therefore, the risk to the population is low, albeit slightly higher for people occupationally exposed to infected birds. The EU authority underlined the importance of testing people with respiratory diseases and recent contact with potentially infected animals or unknown origin. It is of utmost importance to detect possible transmissions early.
Never infections in people in this country
The Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) emphasizes on its website that no human infection has ever been identified in Austria. In this country, there were a total of four small business outbreaks in Upper and Lower Austria and Styria from mid-November 2021 to mid-May 2022. A total of 37 cases were found in wild birds in these federal states, as well as in Vienna and Carinthia. Until March 16, stables were mandatory for farms with more than 350 animals.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
