EUROPE HAS been urged to step up surveillance and biosecurity measures to guard against possible new outbreaks of avian influenza.

The warning follows outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among wild and domestic birds in western Russia and Kazakhstan over the past few months.

The last times HPAI was detected in these areas in 2005 and 2016, epidemics followed in Northern and eastern Europe following autumn migration.

If the pattern is repeated this year, HPAI is expected to arrive in the same areas of Europe in autumn or winter with subsequent spread to countries in southern and western Europe also possible.

EU countries are encouraged to take measures to detect suspected cases of HPAI promptly and increase biosecurity measures at poultry farms. They are also urged to warn veterinary and wildlife health authorities of the likely risk of HPAI introduction, and urge them to carry out observation and prompt testing of dead or sick wild birds.

Spread of the virus is likely to be triggered by a sudden and persistent fall in temperatures in central Russia and Kazakhstan. Several studies demonstrate that cold weather conditions led to the rapid westward expansion of the HPAI virus by infected migratory birds during the 2005-2006 and 2016-2017 waves.

The risk of transmission of avian influenza viruses to the general public in Europe remains very low. However, to minimise the risk of transmission to humans, people are advised not to not touch dead birds without wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.