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The Commission has asked the Member States to step up surveillance and will make financing available in order to facilitate this effort. A number of actions were agreed at the meeting, including a review of contingency plans and increased vigilance to ensure that existing measures such as import bans are fully enforced. However, a generalised ban on keeping poultry outdoors was not considered proportionate to the current risk of disease introduction through migratory birds. Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: “We clearly want to do our utmost to prevent the spread of this devastating epidemic to the EU. We will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that the most appropriate risk-reducing measures are in place.” The expert group discussed the current avian influenza situation in Asia, including Russia (Siberia), and agreed that there is cause for serious concern. However, there is not enough information available to determine to what extent the spread of the disease might have been caused by wild birds. There was an extensive discussion on the possibility of the disease spreading into the EU via migratory birds. Taking into account existing knowledge of the migratory routes of the species of birds that might pose a risk of spreading the virus, the group concluded that the immediate risk is probably remote or low, depending on the area of the EU. However, a number of risk-reducing actions were agreed, as outlined below. The EU started intensive surveillance of domestic and wild birds already in 2003. The expert group reviewed the surveillance measures which were put in place at that time in the Member States and which have been adjusted every year since then. It recommended that all Member States, urgently review and intensify the surveillance programmes already planned for 2005/06 by increasing sampling of migratory waterfowl along the flyways that could pose a risk of disease introduction. There should be improved cooperation between the Member States, co-ordinated by the Commission. An additional meeting of the experts has been scheduled for early September, at which the Commission will coordinate the intensified surveillance, for which Community funding is available. All Member States have measures in place, as required by EU law, to ensure that if avian influenza should occur, it would be detected and rapidly eradicated in poultry flocks. The key to limiting the extent of any outbreak is early detection and rapid action. The expert group noted the specific preventative measures implemented or announced in the poultry sector of some Member States in response to the outbreak in Russia, but considered a general ban on keeping poultry outdoors to be a disproportionate measure at this time. However, bio-security measures (eg disinfection of vehicles moving between farms) implemented at farm level should be reviewed in all Member States and be reinforced wherever necessary based on a case-by-case risk assessment. This assessment should consider the migratory routes of waterfowl and situations where wild birds might get in close contact with domestic birds (eg at ponds). In at risk situations, vaccination might also be considered. The expert group also recommended that Member States should introduce additional awareness programmes encouraging farmers to improve bio-security measures; review and update the contingency plans for avian flu already in place according to EU legislation and ensure that existing measures and controls at the EU’s external borders are fully applied as regards both commercial consignments and personal imports by individuals and particularly regarding pet birds. In the contingency plans, the need to provide adequate protection for poultry workers at risk of infection should be fully considered. Finally, proper and reliable information on poultry products should be provided to consumers to prevent any lack of consumer confidence. The disease situation in Asia and the risk for the EU The expert group has discussed the current Avian Influenza (AI) situation in Asia, including Russia (Siberia). It considers that the occurrence of several outbreaks of disease in domestic poultry and cases in wild birds in Russia and Kazakhstan following the major episode of mortality in wild birds in the Qinghai lake in China is cause for serious concern. However, the epidemiological situation is not fully clear and does not allow us to understand if and if so to what extent this further spread of disease in certain areas of central and western Asia has been caused by wild birds. Further information is necessary which will involve close cooperation between EU,Third country experts from the concerned countries and International organizations. The expert group has discussed the possibility that the disease could be spread from the currently concerned countries in central and western Asia into the EU via migratory birds, particularly waterbirds. It considers that taking into account the existing knowledge on the migratory routes of the species of birds proceeding from central and western Asia and that might pose a risk of spreading the H5N1 avian influenza virus into the EU, the immediate risk of introduction of AI via these birds is probably remote or low (this also depends on the different areas of the EU). Nevertheless, the expert group feels appropriate that a number of actions as listed below are undertaken to reduce this potential risk to a minimum. The Member States and the Commission should continue to keep the situation under review so that the assessment above can be updated and refined as appropriate, with the involvement of EFSA. 2. Surveillance The expert group highlighted that EU was the first to start intensive surveillance of domestic and wild birds in 2003. The expert group has reviewed the surveillance measures which were put in place then in the Member States, and which have been adjusted each year since. It considers appropriate that all Member States urgently review and intensify the surveillance programmes already planned for 2005/06, by increasing sampling on migratory waterfowl along the flyways that could pose a risk for disease introduction. Member States should improve co-operation in this regard, under coordination of the Commission. 3. Intensified Biosecurity and other disease prevention and control measures The expert group noted that all Member States have measures in place, as required by Community Law, to ensure that Avian influenza, should it occur would be detected and eradicated in poultry flocks. The key to limiting the extent of any outbreak is early detection and rapid action. The Commission has made a proposal, now in discussion with the Member States, to further develop Community legislation in this field. The expert group has taken note of the prophylactic measures implemented or announced in the poultry sector of some Member States, following the most recent outbreaks in the concerned areas in central and western Asia It considers that it would not be proportionate to the current risk of disease introduction from Asia, including Russia (Siberia) through migratory birds to implement a generalised ban on keeping poultry outdoors. However, there is the need that bio-security measures implemented at farm level are reviewed in all Member States, and that they are reinforced wherever necessary on the bases of a case-by-case risk assessment carried out at local level. This assessment should consider inter alia the migratory routes of waterfowl and the occurrence of any situation that may induce these birds to get in closer contact with domestic birds (such as the presence of ponds, etc). In at-risk situations, vaccination might also be considered as a risk-mitigating measure. The expert group also recommended that Member States should:
4. Communication to the consumers The expert group considers that proper and reliable information on poultry products should be provided to the consumers to prevent any lack of confidence from their side. Questions and Answers on EU action on Avian Influenza and Flu Pandemic Preparedness
What is Avian Influenza? Avian Influenza is a virulent and highly contagious viral disease which occurs in poultry and other birds. There are various strains of the avian influenza virus, with the high pathogenic strains having almost 100% fatality rates. Wild birds are often carriers of the low pathogenic strains of the virus without showing any symptoms, and contact of domestic flocks with wild migratory birds has been at the origin of many epidemics in poultry. Avian influenza can occasionally spread to humans and other animals, usually following direct contact with infected birds. What measures are in place to prevent avian influenza being imported into the European Union from a third country? The Commission has undertaken a number of actions to protect the EU from disease introduction from Asia, Russia and Kazahkstan. Imports of live birds and risky poultry products such as fresh poultry meat and untreated feathers from the concerned countries have been prohibited. However, this ban does not concern heat-treated poultry meat, as the heat-treatment (70 degrees) destroys the avian influenza virus. The disease situation in Asia is regularly reviewed at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, where the safeguard measures taken are updated as appropriate. At present, the import ban concerns Cambodia, China including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia and Kazahkstan. What is the EU doing to help Asia tackle the current outbreak there? The ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza in Asia has lead to the death or the killing and destruction of over 125 million birds, economic losses estimated at €8-12 billion and the death of around 50 people. Furthermore, there are fears that this particular virus strain may eventually lead to a human flu pandemic. The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) have called for decisive action by governments to help the countries affected to limit the scale of the bird flu outbreak and so also reduce the risk for public health in Asia. In coordination with the relevant international organisations, the European Commission has already provided some emergency technical and financial support to the concerned countries, Vietnam in particular, to help to control the disease in poultry and other birds and prevent as much as possible the spread of the virus to humans. However, the eradication of avian flu from Asia cannot be considered a realistic short-term objective and adequate planning and co-ordination of future actions and control measures is essential. The FAO is currently finalising a regional master plan including a road map and time frame, within which framework the concerned countries can then draft their own country plans. This FAO master plan and the country plans will be carefully studied as soon as available, in view of possible support by the Commission. How will the Commission’s new proposed Directive on avian influenza improve things? The Commission’s proposal for a Directive on measures for the control of avian influenza (adopted by the Commission on 28 April 2005) aims to update EU measures based on lessons learned from recent epidemics and new scientific knowledge on how the disease spreads and risks to human health. Current EU legislation on avian influenza control is laid down in Council Directive 92/40/EEC. The current Directive only establishes control measures against the so-called “highly pathogenic” avian influenza viruses, those causing major disease outbreaks in poultry and that may also occasionally infect humans. However, there is now evidence that these highly pathogenic viruses actually originate from the so-called “low-pathogenic” avian influenza viruses as a result of virus mutation. In order to prevent major avian influenza outbreaks, the new legislation would also establish compulsory surveillance and control measures against the low pathogenic avian influenza viruses that can be transmitted to domestic poultry from wild birds such as ducks and geese. The low pathogenic viruses cannot be eradicated from wild birds, but the infection of domestic poultry can be effectively controlled and virus mutation into the highly pathogenic forms can be prevented. The aim of the new legislation is to ensure that the most appropriate surveillance and prevention measures against avian flu are in place and that the health risks, economic costs and the negative impact on society in the event of an outbreak are minimised. The new Directive must be adopted by the Council and then transposed into national legislation in all EU Member States before entering fully into force on 1 January 2007. The adoption of the new Directive is a priority for the UK Presidency during the autumn of 2005. For more detailed information on the new proposed Directive, see MEMO/05/142. What has been the recent situation of avian influenza outbreaks? In recent years the poultry industry worldwide has suffered serious damage due to avian flu epidemics. Since 2003, the particularly virulent H5N1 strain of the disease has caused more than 125 million birds to die or be destroyed in South-East Asia. Avian flu is still endemic in this region of the world and eradication is proving extremely difficult. Outbreaks of avian flu also occurred in the USA, Canada and South Africa in 2004. In the EU, recent major outbreaks of avian flu occurred in Italy (1999-2000) and the Netherlands, with incidences in Belgium and Germany (2003). The outbreak in the Netherlands led to the destruction of around 30 million birds and direct economic costs of more than €150 million. On 22 July 2005, Russia announced the outbreak of an avian disease in an area bordering Kazakhstan, confirmed on 23 July to be the H5 avian flu virus. Kazakhstan confirmed an avian influenza outbreak in geese on 2 August and on 8 August Mongolia confirmed that avian influenza has been isolated from samples taken from migratory birds. What measures has the EU taken to guard against avian influenza in the European Union? EU legislation to control avian influenza is laid down in Directive 92/40/EEC. All suspected cases of AI must be investigated and appropriate measures taken in case of confirmation of high pathogenic (highly virulent) avian influenza. To limit the spread of the virus, infected poultry must be killed in a humane way and disposed off safely. Feeding stuffs, contaminated equipment and manure must be destroyed or treated to inactivate the virus. To prevent further spread of disease the veterinary authorities are required to immediately put in place movement restrictions on the affected holdings and on all farms in a radius of at least 10-km around these holdings, the so called surveillance zone. If necessary, stamping-out measures can also be extended to poultry farms in the vicinity of or which have had dangerous contacts with infected farms. In accordance with Community legislation, all Member States have avian influenza contingency plans in place to ensure that the most appropriate measures are immediately implemented. At farm level preventive hygienic measures such as cleaning and disinfection are crucial. Disease awareness amongst farmers and cooperation by all people in the poultry sector must ensure that the strictest biosecurity measures are applied to prevent disease spread. What threats does avian influenza pose to human health? In most cases, avian influenza viruses do not infect humans. However, these viruses have the tendency to mutate and may occasionally spread to other animals and to humans. In particular, there have been cases of humans who were in direct contact with diseased birds becoming infected with certain highly pathogenic subtypes of the avian flu virus. In South-East Asia, around 50 people have died from avian flu since the current outbreak began. A major concern now is that a possible mutation or genetic change of the virus circulating in Asia could lead to the avian flu virus transforming into a new human strain of influenza capable of human-to-human transmission. Such a mutated virus could case a human flu pandemic. The European Commission and EU Member States are working continually on pandemic influenza planning and response measures in case of such an eventuality. What is the Commission doing to help the EU prepare for a potential human flu pandemic? The Commission published on 20 March 2004 its working paper on Community pandemic influenza preparedness and response planning. This identified the key components of the EU strategy to face up to pandemic influenza as the following: Since the publication of this plan, the Commission has been working with Member States and the World Health Organisation to help Member States draw up and improve their national preparedness plans. A workshop was held with the Member States and the WHO on 2-3 March 2005 to take this process forward, and a follow-up workshop will take place in the autumn to address weaknesses and close gaps. The Commission is organising a command-post exercise this autumn to test communications, exchanges of information and interaction between the competent authorities at EU level and the coordination and inter-operability of national plans. A conference is planned after the exercise to evaluate the lessons learnt and to prepare recommendations. Networks of veterinary and human health laboratories are already in place in the EU to address the threat of Influenza viruses. The European Union has a surveillance network established through Community co-funding known as the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS). The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is expected to assume the leading and determinant role in this field. The Commission is working to establish improved co-operation between this network and the Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, as well as the relevant European and international organisations dealing with animal and human health, to ensure better preparation in case of a pandemic. A joint workshop of avian and human flu experts was held earlier this year to improve coordination. A meeting of experts from Member States, EISS and ECDC was called by the Commission on 21 June to prepare a Technical Guidance Document on procedures for communication to Member States, the ECDC and the Commission about influenza A/H5 events in humans. The document is now ready and it will be agreed at the next meeting (20 September) of the competent authorities of the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS). The EWRS is the informatic tool that links Member States, the ECDC and the Commission in case of emergencies due to communicable diseases of Community relevance. Through the EWRS the Member States are regularly updating the Commission on the public health measures undertaken after the recent events reported by Russia. A meeting of the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) and of the Chief Veterinary Officers (CVO) will take place on 22 September in Luxemburg. During this meeting, an update of the situation concerning veterinary and public health measures is expected and issues related to the co-ordination among the two sectors will be discussed. The Commission is promoting talks with the Health Security Committee and the European Vaccine Manufacturers to find an agreed way to ensure sufficiency of influenza vaccines in the EU in the shortest possible time in case of a pandemic. For antivirals the Commission is also pursuing talks with industry to discuss availability of antivirals in different forms and in particular the supply difficulties experienced by several Member States. The Commission proposed on 6 April a European Parliament and Council regulation to establish a solidarity fund that would allow for reimbursement of costs up to 1000 million euros annually that might be incurred in a major public health emergency, which covers costs on vaccines and antivirals. EU Member States will be reimbursed following a proposal by the Commission and a favourable decision taken by qualified majority by the Council. This could act as an incentive for the Member States to conclude advance purchase agreements with the industry if they so wish and help contributing towards the creation of conditions of equity of supply. What research activities are there in the area of avian flu? The European Union has allocated €6.5m to a number of projects researching different aspects of the Avian influenza (AI) virus. These include development of new vaccines, studies on transmission of the disease among bird populations and to humans, and improved methods for diagnosis. The European Union also has several projects, totalling €12.4m, seeking to develop new technologies to combat a pandemic of influenza in the human population, through the development of new vaccines, establishing surveillance networks, monitoring drug resistance and examining the use of antivirals. More information: |
