Tag: avian influenza
Highly pathogenic avian influenza in mammals
Avian influenza caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, notably H5N1, has been causing global concern due to the unprecedented number of outbreaks since October 2021. As well as having a devastating impact on poultry farming, the spread of HPAI viruses to new geographical areas, wild bird die-offs, transmission to sea and land mammals, […]
Highly pathogenic avian influenza: 2021-2022 epidemic is the largest ever observed in Europe
An unprecedented number of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus detections were reported in wild and domestic birds from June to September in Europe, according to the latest overview by the European Food Safety Authority, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the EU reference laboratory. Between 11 June and 9 September 2022, […]
Influenza Virus Gap Analysis Workshop,
The Influenza Virus Gap Analysis Workshop reviewed the current state of knowledge on animal influenza, the gaps in our knowledge and where future research should be focused. The meeting was held in the light of more than 3000 outbreaks of H5N1 strain of the virus in poultry in dozens of countries, and more than 77 […]
Indicators for suspicion of avian influenza on duck farms
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) investigated if and to what degree mortality and production data could signal possible outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on duck farms. The results, published in Pathogens, could be used to provide guidelines to farmers and veterinarians to report suspected outbreaks. Data was collected on the daily mortality, egg production, […]
OIE calls for increased surveillance of avian influenza
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is urging countries to maintain their surveillance efforts and to continue timely reporting of avian influenza, as outbreaks in poultry and wild birds intensify. Since the beginning of May 2021, outbreaks of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed in more than 40 countries from different regions […]
Influenza, Still a Major Threat – New International Report on Current Research
The STAR-IDAZ International Research Consortium on Animal Health has published an independent report, (available in the reports section of this website – here) to comprehensively review the research on animal influenza viruses, that has been published in the last five years, including studies on virology, pathogenicity, epidemiology, prevention and control. As well as reviewing recently […]
Improved poultry influenza vaccine provides rapid protection
A vaccine developed by researchers at The Pirbright Institute triggers a rapid immune response which protects chickens against signs of disease and reduces virus shedding. The researchers say the vaccine would also be easier and less costly to produce than the traditional influenza vaccines made in chicken eggs. Many poultry influenza vaccines protect birds from […]
Avian influenza: genetic markers identified that could guide future surveillance
Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have identified the genetic markers on avian influenza viruses that could help the viruses to jump the species barrier and cause disease in people, in collaboration with other members of the One Health Poultry Hub. Co-investigators Professor Munir Iqbal and Dr Joshua Sealy worked with scientists at Imperial College London, […]
Adaptability of avian influenza viruses poses threat to poultry
New insights from a study of the 2016/2017 avian influenza outbreak in Eurasia show how highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses – which are likely to cause severe disease in chickens – can be transmitted from wild migrating bird populations to domestic flocks and back again. These viruses can readily exchange genetic material with other low […]
Avian influenza: recombinant antibodies reduce symptoms and virus shedding in chickens
Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have engineered synthetic antibody molecules that can be administered to poultry to reduce the symptoms of influenza, as well as decreasing the amount of virus they shed into the environment. These results suggest that there is potential for their use as immunotherapy treatments to reduce the burden of influenza in […]