Report about HPAI introduction into Europe, HPAI detection in wild birds and HPAI spread between European holdings in the period 2005‐2015

This report describes information provided by European Member States (MSs) relating to HPAI introduction into Europe, HPAI detection in wild birds and HPAI spread between European holdings. Regarding HPAI introduction into Europe, data were collected for 345 HPAI outbreaks occurring in 13 MSs(2005-2015). These consisted of 159 outbreaks of HPAI H5, 11 outbreaks of HPAI H7 and 175 outbreaks where the H subtypewas not reported. Most HPAI H5 outbreaks were reported in 2006-2007 and in 2015; most HPAI H7 outbreaks in 2013; and most HPAI outbreaks of unreported H subtype(but presumably H5) in 2006. Overall, most HPAI H5 outbreaks were reported in 2006 from Romania and Hungary, and in 2015 from France, whereas most HPAI H7 outbreaks were reported in 2013 from Italy. The species affected by HPAI H5outbreaks were most frequently reported as ducks, mixed ducks and geese, and backyard flocks of undetermined species; those affected by HPAI H7 outbreaks as chickens; and those affected by HPAI of undetermined H subtype(but presumably H5) as backyard flocks of undetermined species.Regarding HPAI detection in wild birds (2005-2015), there were 1055 records for wild birds with HPAI, all of the subtype H5, from 13 EU Member States. These HPAI-infected birds were found inthe years 2006-2010 and 2014-2015. The majority of HPAI-H5-positive birds were recorded from Germany in 2006-2007. The wild bird species in which HPAI H5 was most frequently reported were mute swans and black-necked grebes. Other species in which HPAI H5 was frequently reported were mallards, tufted ducks, Canada geese, whooper swans, common buzzards, and great crested grebes. Regarding HPAI spread between European holdings, a selected number of experimental studies were reviewed, involving HPAI H5N2 in chickens, HPAI H7N7 in chickens, turkeys, golden pheasants and ringed teal, HPAI H5N1 in Pekin ducks and chickens.