22.12.2017

DEFRA

Since the 11th December, Netherlands has reported three cases of H5N6 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds in Flevoland, near the outbreak reported on the 8th December in commercial ducks. The birds were all reported to be mute swans (Cygnus olor) and in total 8 were found dead and all tested positive. On the 21st December an outbreak of H5N6 HPAI was reported in captive birds in Flevoland, where according to initial reports, 49 out of 58 birds were found dead and all tested positive for the virus. 
The finding of H5N6 HPAI in dead mute swans in Netherlands is concerning for several reasons:
- this is the first time this virus has been reported in wild birds in Europe;
- it has been reported in the past few months in SE and E Asia, where it is also affecting wild waterbirds, for example the endangered Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) in a national park in Taiwan and mute swans, tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula) and black headed gulls (Larus ridibundus) in Japan;
- in Asia, poultry outbreaks from as wide afield as the Philippines to South Korea have been reported which suggests it is spreading easily within the wild bird migratory flyway;
- it is present in the Netherlands which serves as a near stop-over point for waterfowl migrating further west into the UK at this time of year.