First detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Norway.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5N8 have been reported in wild birds and poultry in Europe during autumn 2020. Norway is one of the few countries in Europe that had not previously detected HPAI virus, despite widespread active monitoring of both domestic and wild birds since 2005.

Results

We report detection of HPAI virus subtype H5N8 in a wild pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus), and several other geese, ducks and a gull, from south-western Norway in November and December 2020. Despite previous reports of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), this constitutes the first detections of HPAI in Norway.

Conclusions

The mode of introduction is unclear, but a northward migration of infect

SUBMITTER: Madslien K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8199823 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature