Comparison of 2016–17 and Previous Epizootics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Guangdong Lineage in Europe

Alarcon, P; Brouwer, A; Vekatesh, D; Duncan, D; Dovas, C I; Georgiades, G; Monne, I; Fusaro, A; Dan, A; Smietanka, K; Ragias, V; Breed, A C; Chassalevris, T; Hjulsager, C K; Ryan, E; Sanchez, A; Niqueux, E; Tammiranta, N; Zohari, S; Stroud, D A; Savic, V; Lewis, N S; Brown, I H

Abstract

We analyzed the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 epizootic of 2016–17 in Europe by epidemiologic and genetic characteristics and compared it with 2 previous epizootics caused by the same H5 Guangdong lineage. The 2016–17 epizootic was the largest in Europe by number of countries and farms affected and greatest diversity of wild birds infected. We observed significant differences among the 3 epizootics regarding region affected, epidemic curve, seasonality, and outbreak duration, making it difficult to predict future HPAI epizootics. However, we know that in 2005–06 and 2016–17 the initial peak of wild bird detections preceded the peak of poultry outbreaks within Europe. Phylogenetic analysis of 2016–17 viruses indicates 2 main pathways into Europe. Our findings highlight the need for global surveillance of viral changes to inform disease preparedness, detection, and control.

Citation

Alarcon, P., Brouwer, A., Vekatesh, D., Duncan, D., Dovas, C. I., Georgiades, G., …Brown, I. H. (2018). Comparison of 2016–17 and Previous Epizootics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Guangdong Lineage in Europe. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2412.171860

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jan 16, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 22, 2019
• Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2270-2283
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2412.171860
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1385011