Annual report of the avian influenza surveillance in poultry carried out by Member States in 2006

Transcription

1 EUROPEAN COMMISSION HEALTH & CONSUMER PROTECTION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL D1 - Animal Health and Standing Cmmittees 04 Veterinary cntrl prgrammes SANCO/10554/2007 Rev.1 Annual reprt f the avian influenza surveillance in pultry carried ut by Member States in 2006 Prepared by the Cmmunity Reference Labratry fr avian influenza and Newcastle disease 1 1 Uta Hesterberg, Nicle Yung, Lara Wttn, Alasdair Ck, Ian Brwn

2 Executive summary Surveillance fr avian influenza (AI) in EU Member States is carried ut since 2003 under EU apprved prgrammes and c-financed by the Eurpean Cmmissin. Surveillance in pultry is based n serlgical testing fr AI f subtypes H5 and H7, which have shwn t have the ptential t mutate t highly pathgenic avian influenza (HPAI). In 2006, a ttal f pultry hldings fr the fllwing categries were sampled by the 25 Member States: Chicken breeders (2130 hldings), Laying hens (8537), Brilers (2383), Turkey Fatteners (1981), Turkey Breeders (150), Backyard Flcks (9051), Ducks and Geese (2176), Game Birds (1500), Ratites (448) and Z Birds (649 in ne MS). The ttal number f hldings included in the survey varied frm 15 (Luxemburg) t 7390 (Spain). Sme Member States sampled nly the requested samples size r less, thers (fr example Spain, The Netherlands and Germany) sampled much higher numbers f hldings than requested and in case f the Netherlands mst hldings were sampled mre than nce. Mre Member States included backyard flcks in their surveillance prgrammes than in previus years and several Member States increased the number f game bird hldings in the survey. Eighty-ne hldings tested psitive fr H5 in seven Member States, 10 fr subtype H7 in six MS and 54 fr ther subtypes in fur Member States (ne hlding tested psitive fr subtypes H5 and H7). As in previus years, duck and geese hldings were the mst frequent psitive hlding identified and H5 was the mst frequently identified subtype. In this year s survey tw Member States (Finland and Denmark) fund psitive hldings thrugh this survey fr the first time since In tw Member States (Spain and Germany) AI was detected in mre pultry categries than in previus years. T imprve the utputs f this survey, further cllectin f epidemilgical data and jined analysis with the wild bird surveillance data is required t increase the epidemilgical understanding f AI in EU Member States. Due t the changing situatin f AI in Eurpe it shuld be cnsidered t revise the bjectives and sampling frame f this survey. 2

3 Table f cntents Intrductin... 4 Materials and Methds... 5 Survey design...5 The survey prgrammes...6 Testing f Samples...6 General Criteria...6 Labratry tests...7 Result interpretatin...8 Data Prcessing and Cmpleteness...8 Categrising Results frm Member States...8 Prevalence Cnfidence Intervals...9 Results Overview f sampling and results...11 Sampling and results accrding t pultry categry...19 Ducks and Geese...19 Chicken breeders...19 Laying hens...20 Brilers...20 Turkey breeders...21 Backyard flcks...21 Game birds...21 Ratite...22 Summary and Discussin Annex I Annex II Descriptive results fr Member States Table f Tables Table 1: Number f hldings t be sampled f each pultry categry (except turkey, duck/geese hldings)... 6 Table 2: Number f turkey, duck/geese hldings t be sampled... 6 Table 3 Key t Member States abbreviatins Table 4 Ttal number f sampled hldings, ttal hldings (in parentheses) and Table 5 prprtin sampled by Member States and pultry categry Ttal number f sampled and psitive hldings and upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence f H5 & H7 by Member States and pultry categry Table 6 Hldings psitive fr subtype H Table 7 Hldings psitive fr Subtype H Table 8 Hldings serlgically psitive fr subtypes ther than H5 r H Table 9 Ttal number f hldings psitive fr AI in 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member States

4 INTRODUCTION Experience has shwn that sme strains f H5 and H7 subtype f AI viruses have the ability t mutate t highly pathgenic strains after having circulated in the pultry ppulatin fr sme time. This situatin is liable t lead t high mrtality in pultry and severe ecnmic lsses t the pultry industry that culd be reduced by implementing a screening system in the Member States t allw earlier detectin and cntrl f such precursr strains. The Scientific Cmmittee n Animal Health and Animal Welfare (SCAHAW, 2000) and the Eurpean Fd Safety Authrity (EFSA, 2005) recmmended the implementatin f serlgical surveys f pultry ppulatins in Member States in rder t detect the presence f lw pathgenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses f H5 and H7 subtypes. Surveys fr AI in pultry and wild birds in Member States were first carried ut in 2003 and since then n an annual basis. The bjectives f the serlgical surveillance in pultry during 2006 accrding t the guidelines laid dwn in Cmmissin Decisin 2006/101/EC (EC, 2006a) are: T detect infectins with AI virus subtypes H5 and H7 in different species f pultry by repeating the screening exercise f 2005/06 in a mdified, mre targeted manner. T further cntribute t a cst benefit study in relatin t eradicatin f all H5 and H7 subtypes frm pultry envisaged by the change in definitin f AI. T cntribute t knwledge f the threats t animal health frm wildlife. T maintain the cnnectin and integratin f human and veterinary netwrks fr influenza surveillance. This reprt is based upn the results frm the furth survey, in 2006 under Member States' surveillance prgrammes as apprved by Cmmissin Decisin 2006/314/EC (EC, 2006b). 4

5 MATERIALS AND METHODS Survey design The survey design was based upn examinatin f all categries f pultry in each Member States accrding t the guidelines laid dwn in the Annex t Cmmissin Decisin 2006/101/EC. Sampling shuld have been stratified thrughut the whle cuntry s that the results culd be cnsidered representative fr the whle f each Member State. The sampling perid shuld have cvered a perid apprpriate t the prductin perids fr each pultry categry, the winter mnths and where apprpriate, adapted t identified perids where presence f ther pultry hsts might pse a greater risk fr intrductin f disease. The number f farms sampled by categry f pultry, excluding turkeys, ducks and geese, were defined t ensure the identificatin f at least ne infected flck if the prevalence f infected farms was at least 5%, with a 95% cnfidence interval (see table I). Fr turkey, quail, duck/geese hldings the number f farms sampled were defined t ensure the identificatin f at least ne infected flck if the prevalence f infected farms was at least 5%, with a 99% cnfidence interval (see table II). Fr all categries except ducks geese and quail, 5 10 serlgical samples were required t be cllected frm each farm (and frm each shed if applicable) t ensure a 95% prbability f identifying at least ne psitive bird if the prevalence f serpsitive birds was 30%. Fr duck geese and quail hldings samples were required t be cllected fr serlgical testing. Additinal sampling f 10 swabs/faecal samples per hlding fr virlgical investigatin which were tested as pls f five samples was carried ut in sme Member States in these categries. 5

6 Table 1: Number f hldings t be sampled f each pultry categry (except turkey, duck/geese hldings) Number f hldings per pultry categry per Member States Up t 34 Number f hldings t be sampled All > Table 2: Number f turkey, duck/geese hldings t be sampled Number f hldings per pultry categry per Member States Up t 46 Number f hldings t be sampled All > The survey prgrammes Survey prgrammes f Member States were evaluated and apprved by the Eurpean Cmmissin thrugh Decisin 2006/314/EC (EC, 2006b). Details f the survey prgrammes fr each Member States are available n the Internet at Testing f Samples General Criteria It was recmmended that testing f samples shuld be carried ut at Natinal Labratries fr Avian Influenza r by ther labratries authrised by the cmpetent authrities and under the cntrl f the Natinal Labratries in Member States. 6

7 All results (bth serlgical and virlgical) were sent t the Cmmunity Reference Labratry (CRL) fr cllatin. Specific prtcls t accmpany the sending f material t the CRL and reprting tables fr cllectin f survey data were prvided. The CRL prvided technical supprt and kept an enlarged stck f diagnstic reagents apprpriate t the survey. All AI virus islates shuld have been submitted t the CRL. Viruses f H5/H7 subtype were subjected t the standard characterisatin tests (nucletide sequencing/ivpi) accrding t Cuncil Directive 92/40/EEC (EC, 1992). All psitive findings shuld have been retrspectively investigated at the hlding and the cnclusins f the investigatin reprted t the Cmmissin and the CRL. Labratry tests Labratry tests were carried ut in accrdance with Cuncil Directive 92/40/EEC (EC, 1992). Hwever, if labratry tests nt laid dwn in the Directive 92/40/EEC r described in the OIE Terrestrial Manual were used, Member States shuld have prvided the necessary validatin data t the CRL, when submitting their prgramme fr apprval. All psitive serlgical findings were cnfirmed by the Natinal labratries fr avian influenza by haemagglutinatin-inhibitin test using designated strains supplied by the Cmmunity Reference Labratry: H5 a) Initial test using Ostrich/Denmark/72420/96 (H5N2) b) Test all psitives with Duck/Denmark/64650/03 (H5N7) t eliminate N2 crss reactive antibdy. H7 a) Initial test using Turkey/England/647/77 (H7N7). b) Test all psitives with African Starling/983/79 (H7N1) t eliminate N7 crss reactive antibdy. 7

8 Result interpretatin Viruses were selected based n brad antigenic reactivity within subtype. Interpretatin f psitive samples fllwed internatinal standards as specified in Directive 92/40/EEC (EC, 1992). Sera with HI titres f greater r equal t 2 4 were scred psitive. Samples psitive in tests with ne strain f a particular subtype were subjected t a further test with the additinal recmmended strain fr that H subtype. Overall a serum sample was cnsidered psitive if HI titres f greater r equal t 2 4 were btained in tests with bth virus strains f the same subtype. Data Prcessing and Cmpleteness All data recrds were submitted frm the Member States t the CRL via the Eurpean Cmmissin. This reprt is restricted t data that were cllected and submitted t the Eurpean Cmmissin under EU decisins 2006/101/EC (EC,2006a) and 2006/314/EC(EC, 2006b). Recrds were checked fr data quality and cmpleteness. If deemed necessary, queries were sent ut t Member States and their respnses were integrated befre the data were analysed. Categrising Results frm Member States The way in which individual Member State s reprted and categrised the pultry hldings varied. Where a Member State had included results fr a particular type f pultry hlding (e.g. freerange chicken), which did nt fit bviusly int ne f the required pultry categries, the data were put int the mst apprpriate ne (e.g. Brilers). Where n reliable stratificatin was available fr data submitted as Turkeys, s nt specified as fattening r breeder, these were included in the fattening turkey categry. Hungary reprted Hens, which accrding t their surveillance prgramme were breeding and egg layers. As there was n reliable stratificatin the data was included in the laying hens categry. Estnia and Slvak Republic reprted data fr Ducks and Geese, sme f the hldings fr which were stated as backyard/nn-cmmercial. These were kept in the Ducks and Geese categry. 8

9 Hungary reprted quails, striches, partridges, pheasants, and wild ducks as a single categry f ther pultry which culd nt be sub-divided and s these were categrized as games birds. Prevalence Cnfidence Intervals Cnfidence intervals f the prevalence were calculated in the fllwing manner: If infrmatin n the ttal number f hldings was nt available exact binmial cnfidence intervals were calculated based n the number f psitive hldings and hldings tested. If the ttal number f hldings was knwn, the hypergemetric distributin was applied t derive cnfidence intervals. Adjustments and assumptins: If it culd be assured that all hldings f a categry were sampled r repetitively sampled, n cnfidence intervals were calculated. If the ttal number f hldings was nt prvided the ttal number f hldings in a categry reprted in the previus year was used fr the calculatin f cnfidence intervals, if available. The sensitivity f the diagnstic test was assumed t be 100 percent. As the number f birds sampled is nt reprted in the current reprting frmat, it was assumed that the stated prcedure was crrectly fllwed and that at least 5-10 birds were selected at randm frm each hlding. 9

10 Table 3 Key t Member States abbreviatins Abbreviatin AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HU IE IT LT LU LV MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK UK Cuntry Austria Belgium Bulgaria Switzerland Cyprus Czech Republic Germany Denmark Estnia Greece Spain Finland France Hungary Ireland Italy Lithuania Luxemburg Latvia Malta Netherlands Pland Prtugal Rmania Sweden Slvenia Slvak Republic United Kingdm 10

11 RESULTS Overview f sampling and results Unless specified therwise, all ttals and verall prprtins refer t 25 EU Member States. In 2006 a ttal f pultry hldings were reprted t be present in the Member States and f these were sampled by the 25 Member States in their apprved AI surveillance prgrammes. The fllwing categries f pultry and number f hldings were included in the 2006 pultry surveillance: Chicken breeders (2130 hldings), Laying hens (8537), Brilers (2383), Turkey Fatteners (1981), Turkey Breeders (150), Backyard Flcks (9051), Ducks and Geese (2176), Game Birds (1500), Ratites (448) and Z Birds (649 in ne Member State). Table 4 displays the different categries f pultry included in the 2006 survey. The ttal number f hldings sampled are shwn as well as the ttal number f hldings reprted. A green tick indicates that the apprpriate sample size (acc. t Decisin 2006/101/EC, EC, 2006a) was cllected; a red crss indicates that the sample size was less than the required number. In general the survey prgrammes were quite variable between Member States while sme Member States sampled nly the requested samples size r less, thers (fr example Spain, The Netherlands and Germany) sampled much higher numbers f hldings and in case f the Netherlands mst hldings were sampled mre than nce. Mst Member States cllected the required number f hldings in laying hens, but this is nt the case fr all ther pultry categries. The ttal number f hldings included in the survey varied frm 15 (Luxemburg) t 7390 (Spain). Mre Member States included backyard flcks in their surveillance prgrammes than in previus years and several Member States increased the number f game bird hldings in the survey. Member States Table 4 Ttal number f sampled hldings, ttal hldings (in parentheses) and prprtin sampled by Member States and pultry categry 11

12 AT BE CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HU IE IT LT LU LV MT Chicken Breeders 208 (229) 91% 17 (19) 89.5% (151) 94% (483) 55% 66 (66) 77 (92) 84% 244 (251) 97% 2 Laying Hens 60 (1600) 4% 405 (474) 85% 30 (30) 51 (92) 55% (143) 93% 13 (13) (1315) 65.5% 55 (953) 6% 70 (702) 9.9% 67 (749) 9% 141 (183) 77% 1100 (1288) 85% (14) 26 (26) 71 (83) 85.5% Brilers 6 (119) 5% 8 2 (7) 29% (5904) 17% 120 (3807) 3% 9 Turkey Fatteners 80 (120) 67% 37 (46) 80% 7 (8) 87.5% 7 (75) 9.3% (40) 42.5% (522) 87% 53 (176) 30% 157 (1400) 11% 91 (407) 22% 77 (107) 72% 408 (457) 89% 2 1 (1) Turkey breeders 3 (3) 2 4 (12) 33% 53 (311) 17% 9 (13) 69% 56 (57) 98% Backyard Flcks 9 (24) 37.5% 93 (8530) 1% (19132) 18% Ducks & Geese 27 (40) 67.5% 33 (41) 80.5% 1 (1) 33 (33) (17) (134) 6 (16) 37.5% 451 (3218) 14% 174 (800) 22% 2 (2) 104 (160) 65% 74 3 (3) Game Birds Ratites Others 21 (27) 78% 5 (7) 71% 33 (37) 89% (175) (542) 70% (119) 44.5% 325 (422) 77% 11 9 (9) 21 (21) 36 (53) 68% 9 (9) (313) 28% (183) 54% 1 (1) 3 (3) 649 (3737) 17% Ttal Hldings sampled (prprtin f EU ttal in parentheses) % % % Ttal Hldings (prprtin f EU ttal in parentheses % % % % 0.07% % % % % 0.004% % % % % % % % % % % % % 0.78% % % % % % % % NL* PL PT SE SI SK UK EU Ttal 919 (304) 29 (43) 67% 18 (18) 40 (40) 12 (12) 20 (50) 40% 57 (992) 6% 2130 (2750) 7.38% 4696 (1405) 102 (130) 78.5% 78 (205) 38% 60 (351) 17% 61 (137) 44.5% 30 (41) 73% 80 (1256) 6% 8537 (11190) 29.57% 943 (669) 101 (2463) 4% 7 (25) 28% 116 (135) 86% 2383 (13129) 8.25% 93 (136) 68% 95 (210) 45% 26 (26) 53 (68) 78% 12 (15) 80% 95 (575) 16.5% 1981 (4389) 6.83% 4 (3) 4 (4) 4 (4) 11 (141) 8% 150 (548) 0.52% 2726 (236296) 1% 181 (54509) 0.3% 9051 (318491) 31.36% 61 (67) 91% 205 (369) 56% 13 (16) 81% 29 (30) 97% 20 (14) 166 (826) 20% 2176 (5787) 7.50% 14 (14) 23 (23) 9 (10) 90% 24 (31) 77% 31 (112) 28% 1500 (1528) 5.17% 15 (33) 45.5% 40 (56) 71% 15 (15) 15 (40) 37.5% 23 (28) 82% 12 (153) 8% 448 (908) 1.55% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % 649 (3737) 2.25% In ttal, nine Member States fund psitive samples in this year s survey. Eighty-ne hldings tested psitive fr H5 in seven Member States, 10 fr subtype H7 in six MS 12

13 and 54 fr ther subtypes in fur Member States (ne hlding tested psitive fr subtypes H5 and H7). Table 5 displays the number f hldings tested, the number f psitive hldings and the upper 95% cnfidence limit fr the prevalence f H5/H7 fr each categry. As in previus years, duck and geese hldings were the mst frequent psitive categry. The upper 95% cnfidence limit fr H5/H7 prevalence varied frm 1.6 % in Pland t 62.5% in Finland. This high upper cnfidence limit in Finland reflects the small sample size f six hldings, f which tw tested psitive. N AI was detected in brilers. 13

14 Table 5 Ttal number f sampled and psitive hldings and upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence f H5 & H7 by Member States and pultry categry Member States Chicken Breeders Laying Hens Brilers 60 AT 4.8% 208 2/ 405 BE 1.2% 0.8% CY 14.2% 0% 39.2% 51 CZ 5.2% DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HU IE IT LT LU LV MT NL PL PT SE SI SK UK % % 3.5% % Turkey Fatteners % % % % Turkey breeders 3 0% Backyard Flcks 9 4.2% % Ducks & Geese % 2/ % 1 0% 33 0% 2/ 435 Game Birds Ratites Others Ttal 21 0% % 7.2% % 0% % / / / 78 1/ 435 1/ % 31.23% 2.5% 77.6% 20.8% 1.8% 39.4% 6.18% / 133 3/ 41 5/298* 1/ 133# 1/ 41 2/298* / % 15.2% X X % 45.07% % 3.7% 9.7% 2.12% 12.73% 15.33% 360 1/ 861 4/ / / / 175 # 1.0% 1.6% 0.3% 0.6% 50% 0.15% 6.7% / 6 0% 5.3% 5.2% 62.5% % % % 1/ % % 18 0% 40 0% 12 0% % % 1/ % % 2/ % 6/ % % / 157 8/ 53 40/ 451 4/ % 2.5% 5.43% 24.1% 11.2% 4.1% 52.7% % 3.1% 0.13% 1.6% 5.1% % 3.4% 26.2% 0% / 104 1/ % 0.6% 4.4% 3.1% 0.95% 2.8% % 26.9% 77.6% 4.5% 3.97% 23.84% % 0% % 0% 3.24% 0% 0% 0% % % 0% 0% 4.1% / 205^^ % 2.8% 1.6% 0% 17.0% % 2.9% 2.9% 0.11% 18.5% 0% 6.4% % 33.9% 0% 0% 8.4% 0% % 4.8% 25.6% 17.2% % 2.2% 19.9% 0% 1.6% 11.1% 10.4% 10.8% % % 2/ / 166~ 23.6% 4.0% % % 452 EU Ttal % Of EU ttal EU Ttal psitive hldings % Psitive hldings (95% CI) (0.15%) 0.35 (0.42%) 0 (0.11%) 0.25 (0.43%) 5.3 (8.76%) 0.13 (0.21%) 2.87 (3.38%) 0.61 (0.73%) 0.45 (0.99%) 0.93 (1.71%) Psitive H5 Psitive H7 Psitive fr subtypes ther than H5 r H7 ^^ Psitive hlding dubtful x n cnfidence limit calculated as sme hldings tested several times # ES Als had 1/175 virlgically psitive fr H5 and 1/175 virlgically psitive fr H7 # DK 2 Flcks at the same hlding ~ UK Ttal psitive hldings = 3; 1 hlding was psitive fr bth H5 and H7 * DK One Mallard hlding psitive fr bth H5 and H7 14

15 Tables 6, 7 and 8 display the ttal number f hldings, number f hldings tested and the upper 95% cnfidence limit fr H5, H7 and ther LPAI respectively fr psitive categries. Differently t ducks and geese the upper 95% cnfidence limit fr the prevalence f H5 in ther categries is frequently quite lw, fr example in laying hens the upper 95% cnfidence interval fr H5 prevalence ranges frm 0.38% in Spain t 1.40% in Denmark. The detected H5 serlgical reactins in ducks and geese and game birds in Denmark riginated frm tw geese flcks, ne duck flck and ne Mallard flck fr re-stcking (breeding). Nne f these hldings were fund psitive by virlgical tests. The three hldings in Denmark that tested psitive fr H5 by PCR were Mallards fr restcking (ffspring) and virus islatin resulted in the finding f LPAI H5N3 in tw hldings and LPAI H5N2 in the ther hlding. These three hldings were culled. The infectin in tw f the hldings was thught t have riginated frm cntact with wild birds, while the infectin in the third hlding was thught t riginate frm indirect cntact with ne f the ther hldings. Nne f the birds shwed clinical signs in any f the hldings. The laying hen hlding in Denmark that tested psitive n serlgy fr the H5 subtype was a free-range hlding and tested negative n PCR. Tw H5 psitive duck and geese hldings in Belgium were fund: One free-range parental geese hlding, n which ne animal tested psitive n serlgy and a fattening duck hlding, where tw animals tested psitive and n which the ducks had been free-range as ducklings. On the Belgian H5 psitive laying hen hlding, ne pullet was fund serlgically psitive and there was n histry f utdr keeping. Nne f the hldings tested psitive n fllw up testing (Real time RT-PCR fr ducks and geese, HI in pullets and virus islatin in laying hens). 15

16 Table 6 Hldings psitive fr subtype H5 Member States Pultry Categry Ttal Hldings Ttal Hldings Sampled Number f Serlgical Psitive Hldings Number f Virlgical Psitive Hldings Upper 95% cnfidence interval fr serlgical prevalence f H5 Laying Hens BE Ducks and Geese DE Ducks and Geese NK Laying Hens Ducks and Geese X DK Game Birds * 3 X Laying Hens Backyard Flcks Ducks and Geese ^ 6.70 Ratites ES Other ** FI Ducks and Geese Fattening Turkeys Ducks and Geese^^ FR Game Birds NK Ducks and Geese IT Game Birds UK Ducks and Geese * Ttal * One psitive fr bth H5 and H7, serlgically psitive hldings were different frm virlgically psitive hldings ** Zlgical ^ Psitive H5, negative N1 ^^ Ttal n. f virlgically psitive hldings stated 0, but 2 regins have a H5 virlgically psitive hlding, s assumed 2. X n cnfidence interval calculated as flcks in risk areas tested several times per year s mainly detected in duck and geese hldings (5 ut f 7 ttal H7 psitive hldings), but a laying hen hlding in Denmark and a chicken breeder hlding in the Netherlands was als fund psitive fr this subtype. S u b t y p e H 7 w a s a l In mst Member States the upper 95% cnfidence limit f the prevalence f the H7 subtype in the relevant pultry categry was belw 5%. The geese flck in Pland that gave a dubtful result n serlgy fr H7 was resampled and serum samples as well as tracheal and clacal swabs were cllected, all f which resulted negative. The flck was reprted t nt have shwn any clinical symptms thrughut the 4-year rearing perid. The tw flcks in Denmark that tested psitive n serlgy fr H7 were in fact tw flcks n the same free-range hlding and tested negative n virlgical testing. 16

17 Table 7 Hldings psitive fr Subtype H7 Number f Serlgical Psitive Hldings Number f Virlgical Psitive Hldings Upper 95% Cnfidence limit Member States Pultry Categry Ttal Hldings Ttal Hldings Sampled DE Ducks and Geese NK Free range Laying Hens # Ducks and Geese X DK Game Birds * 0 X ES Ducks and Geese^ NL Chicken Breeders PL Ducks and Geese ** UK Ducks and Geese * Ttal * One psitive fr bth H5 and H7 ** PL Psitive dubtful X n cnfidence interval calculated as flcks in risk areas tested several times per year # DK 2 Flcks at the same hlding Table 8 Hldings serlgically psitive fr subtypes ther than H5 r H7 Number f Serlgical Psitive Hldings Number f Virlgical Psitive Hldings Upper 95% Cnfidence limit Member States Pultry Categry Ttal Hldings Ttal Hldings Sampled Laying Hens NK Fattening Turkeys NK Backyard Flcks NK DE Game Birds NK DK Game Birds * 0 6 X ES Laying Hens Fattening Turkeys FR Breeder Turkeys Ttal X n cnfidence interval calculated as flcks in risk areas tested several times per year * Fr Game birds excluding Mallards, PCR/Virlgical the ttal sampled is 146, serlgical is 131. Ttal Mallard hldings tested by serlgy and PCR is 21. Table 9 belw shws the number f H5, H7 and ther AI detectins in Member States that fund psitive hldings fr the years In this year s survey tw Member States (Finland and Denmark) fund psitive hldings thrugh this survey fr the first time since In tw Member States (Spain and Germany) cases were fund in mre categries f pultry than in previus years. 17

18 Table 9 Ttal number f hldings psitive fr AI in 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member States Member Psitive Hldings Psitive Hldings Psitive Hldings States Hldings Ttal Other H5 H7 Hldings Ttal Other H5H7 Hldings Ttal Other H5H7 Chicken breeder(3 (2H5)), BE Laying hens (1 H5) Laying hens (2 H5) Ducks and Geese (4 H5) Ducks and Geese (2 H5) 4 4 Laying hens (16) Turkey Fatteners (1) Backyard flcks (10) DE Ducks and Geese (2, 1H5 1 H7) Ducks and Geese (2 H5, 1 H7) Ducks and Geese (5 4H5 1 H7) Ratites (1 H5) Game birds (1) Laying hens (1H5 & 1 H7) DK Ducks and geese(4 3 H5 1H7) Game birds (12 5 H5 2 H7 6 Other) Laying hens (2) Brilers (2) EL Turkey Fattener (1) 5 5 Laying hens (10, 1 H5) Backyard flcks (2 H5) Ducks and geese (4 H5 2 H7) ES Ratites (2 H5) Ratites (2 1 H5 1H7) Ducks and geese (1 H5) 1 1 Other (6 H5) FI Ducks and geese (2 H5) 2 2 Turkey Fatteners(4, 1 H5) Turkey Breeders(8) Turkey Fatteners(3) Ducks and geese (40 H5) Ducks and geese (58 55 H5 3 H7) Game birds (4 H5) FR IT MT Turkey Fatteners(11, 1H5) Turkey Breeders (3) Ducks and geese (20 19H5 1 H7) Briler(2 H7) Turkey Fatteners (27 H7) Ducks and geese (1 H5) Ratites (1H5) Laying hens (14) Des nt test ducks and geese) Ducks and geese (1 H5) Game birds (1 H5) 2 2 Laying hens (1H7) Ducks and geese (3 H5) Chicken breeder (1H7) 1 1 NL PL Ducks and Geese (1 H5) 1 1 Ducks and geese (2 H5) 2 2 Ducks and Geese (1 H7) 1 1 UK Ducks and geese (1 H5) 1 1 Ducks and geese (3, 2H5 1H7) Ttal

19 Sampling and results accrding t pultry categry Detailed tables displaying the number f hldings, hldings sampled and hldings psitive by Member States and categry are shwn in Appendix 1. Ducks and Geese This type f hlding was sampled in all but three Member States as in the previus year, the sample sizes varied frm ne (CY) t 451 (FR). The verall number f hldings tested increased cmpared t last year, mainly due t an increase in surveillance in Germany, Greece and Spain. Many Member States sampled hlding numbers well in excess f the requirements (DE, EL, ES, FR, HU and PL) and frequently a large prprtin f the reprted ttal hldings were sampled (14- ). With the exceptin f the Netherlands, where nly ne hlding f chicken breeders was fund t be serlgically psitive fr AI, all Member States that fund psitive hldings in any categry als fund psitive hldings in ducks and geese. In tw Member States (PL and UK) this was the nly categry f pultry where psitives were fund. Almst half f the ttal number f AI psitive hldings were duck and geese hldings (62 ut f 144) the large majrity f these psitive hldings shwed antibdies t the H5 subtype. Chicken breeders This categry f pultry was sampled by 17 Member States. Frequently a large prprtin f the reprted ttal number f hldings was sampled (6-). Overall chicken breeder hldings made up 7.38% f the ttal hldings sampled. This year nly ne hlding tested psitive fr subtype H7 in the NL ut f a EU ttal f 2130 tested. In the previus year three chicken breeder hldings were fund psitive in Belgium (tw H5 and ne H7) ut f EU ttal 2489 tested, nne in

20 Laying hens This categry was sampled in all the Member States as in previus years, but the number f hldings sampled has dubled cmpared t Hwever this increase is mainly due t a large increase in sampling in the Netherlands where the number f sampled hldings quadrupled. It appears that frequently a large prprtin f the ttal hldings were sampled and several Member States sampled well in excess f the required sample sizes. Laying hen hldings accunted fr almst 30% f the sampled hldings in A ttal f 31 psitive hldings ut f 8537 sampled were fund in this year s survey cmpared t ne ut f 4494 in the previus year and 17 ut f 5494 in Psitive hldings were fund in fur Member States (DE, DK, BE and ES) in three f them AI was nt fund in laying hens in the previus years. In Denmark, where in previus years n psitive laying hen hldings were fund, ne hlding tested psitive fr subtype H5 and ne fr subtype H7. Bth hldings were free-range hldings. On the hlding that tested psitive fr subtype H7, tw flcks n the hlding tested psitive. Brilers Mre Member States (11) included brilers in their survey prgramme than in 2005, when eight Member States sampled briler hldings. This led t an verall increase f briler hldings sampled cmpared t As wuld be expected, frequently these hldings were sampled in lw numbers and frmed a cmparatively lw prprtin f the ttal hldings and n psitive hldings were detected as in the previus year. In 2004 verall fur psitive hldings were detected, tw H7 psitive hldings in Italy and tw hldings psitive fr subtypes ther than H5 r H7 in Greece. Turkey Fatteners This categry was sampled in 21 Member States. The verall number f hldings was largely the same as in the previus year and nly in Spain did the number f sampled hldings f this categry increase significantly. 20

21 As in previus years France fund psitive hldings in this categry (ne subtype H5, and tw influenza A virus nt H5 r H7). Italy, that had detected several psitive turkey fattener hldings in 2004 due t a then nging utbreak f H7N3, did nt detect any psitives in this year s survey, as was already the case in Germany detected ne psitive hlding with a subtype ther than H5 r H7. Turkey breeders As in previus years, turkey breeders were sampled in less than half the Member States (10). Except in France, where eight ut f 53 hldings tested psitive fr subtypes ther than H5 r H7, n psitive hldings f this categry were fund. In the previus survey n psitive hldings f this type were detected but in the 2004 survey France detected three ut f 82 sampled hldings psitive fr influenza A virus nt H5 r H7. Backyard flcks Six Member States that had nt previusly included backyard flcks in their surveillance did include them this year in additin t the three Member States that surveyed this type f pultry in the previus survey. Due t the large number f hldings in this categry, arund a third f the ttal number f hldings sampled in 2006 were backyard flcks. In particular Spain, Hungary and Prtugal sampled a large number f backyard hldings. In spite f these frequently large sample numbers, psitives were nly detected in Germany and Spain. In Spain tw ut f 3514 backyard flcks tested psitive fr the H5 subtype. In previus years n psitive backyard hldings were detected, hwever, as mentined abve, previusly this type f hlding was nly sampled in lw numbers in very few Member States. Game birds These hldings were included in the survey f 18 Member States. 21

22 Althugh frequently the ttal number f game birds hldings were nt knwn, where it was knwn, a relatively large prprtin f the reprted ttal hldings were cllected (28- ). The EU ttal number f game bird hldings that were sampled almst dubled in 2006 cmpared t 2005 and several Member States increased the number f hldings f this type in their surveillance prgramme. Fur ut f the 18 Member States that sampled this categry fund psitive hldings: In Germany ne hlding ut f 10 tested psitive fr AI f subtypes ther than H5 r H7. In Denmark 12 ut f 298 hldings tested psitive, als fr subtypes ther than H5 r H7. In France fur ut f 220 hldings tested psitive fr the H5 subtype. H5 was als detected in Italy in this categry where ne ut f 325 hldings tested psitive. In previus years n psitive game bird hldings were detected, but the number f game bird hldings included in the survey in 2005 was als half the number f hldings included in this years survey. Ratite This categry was sampled in 17 Member States. In Member States where the ttal number f hldings was knwn, this was belw 50. Frequently a large prprtin f hldings were sampled. Tw H5 psitive ratite hldings ut f 89 tested were fund in Spain. While in this Member State n psitive ratite hldings were fund in 2005, in 2004 tw psitive hldings, ne with subtype H5 and ne with subtype H7 were fund. 22

23 SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION Surveillance fr AI in EU Member States is carried ut since 2003 under EU apprved prgrammes and c-financed by the Eurpean Cmmissin. Surveillance in pultry is based n serlgical testing fr AI f subtypes H5 and H7, which have shwn t have the ptential t mutate t HPAI. In 2006, a ttal f pultry hldings fr the fllwing categries were sampled by the 25 Member States: Chicken breeders (2130 hldings), Laying hens (8537), Brilers (2383), Turkey Fatteners (1981), Turkey Breeders (150), Backyard Flcks (9051), Ducks and Geese (2176), Game Birds (1500), Ratites (448) and Z Birds (649 in ne MS). Althugh there was n large change in the number f hldings sampled in mst Member States and categries, sampling increased in sme categries fr example mre Member States included backyard flcks in their surveillance prgrammes than in previus years and several Member States increased the number f game bird hldings in the survey. The ttal number f hldings included in the survey varied frm 15 (Luxemburg) t 7390 (Spain). Sme Member States sampled nly the requested samples size r less, thers (fr example Spain, The Netherlands and Germany) sampled much higher numbers f hldings than requested and in case f the Netherlands mst hldings were sampled mre than nce. This variatin in sampling has an impact n the cmparability f the results, as the prprtin f psitive hldings in a targeted survey design, where hldings at higher risk were sampled mre frequently can nt be directly cmpared t survey results that were cllected n the basis f a randm sampling frame and this shuld be kept in mind. If all ten birds frm ne hlding gave negative results, then the upper 95% cnfidence limit f the prevalence f serlgically psitive birds within a flck f 1000 birds is 26%. Thus, at a hlding level, the test can nly be interpreted as prviding evidence f disease freedm if it is accepted that the prevalence f infectin, if the virus were present, wuld be greater than 26%. Eighty-ne hldings tested psitive fr H5 in seven Member States, 10 fr subtype H7 in six MS and 54 fr ther subtypes in fur Member States (ne hlding tested psitive fr subtypes H5 and H7). 23

24 The results f the 2006 AI survey fr pultry shwed cnsiderable variatin amngst Member States. Hwever, ne feature with few exceptins is, that almst all Member States that included ducks and geese in their surveillance detected psitive hldings in this pultry sectr. In tw Member States (PL and UK) ducks and geese were the nly type f pultry detected with H5 r H7 AI. Althugh the ttal number f duck and geese hldings tested accunted nly fr 7% f the verall number f hldings tested, almst half f all AI infectins were detected in this pultry sectr. Mre than half f the serlgically psitive duck hldings were fund in France. These results are cnsistent with thse f last year s survey. Predminantly psitives in ducks (84%) were attributed t H5 subtype, with less t H7 subtype (11%) and small numbers f unspecified influenza A viruses were detected by sme Member States using a prescreening test fr influenza A. Hwever a pre-screening test was nt cnducted in mst Member States s n the basis f these findings it can nt be assessed whether the prprtin f H5 psitive hldings cmpared t the prprtin f psitives fr ther subtypes varies in between Member States and categries. In this year s survey tw Member States (FI and DK) fund psitive hldings thrugh this survey fr the first time since In tw Member States (ES and DE) AI was detected in mre pultry categries than in previus years. The prprtin f psitive hldings amngst the sampled in this year s survey did nt increase in the majrity f pultry categries and Member States cmpared t 2005 and Assuming that the survey design in Member States and categries has nt changed, this culd be an indicatin that there is n bvius increase f an verall AI prevalence. Hwever it shuld be kept in mind that the sample numbers calculated fr this survey were calculated with the bjective t detect infectin if it were t be present and nt t estimate the prevalence and due t this statement must be taken with care. Future surveys Due t the changing situatin f AI in Eurpe, repetitive utbreaks and serlgically psitive hldings in cnsecutive years, it shuld be cnsidered t revise the bjectives and sampling frame f this survey. The data and infrmatin cllected under the annual EU pultry survey are intended t nt nly serve t supply required evidence fr trading purpses but als cntribute t the 24

25 recgnitin f pssible changes in the epidemilgy f AI in the EU. Since data n AI in wild bird ppulatins is cllected thrughut Member States, the cmbinatin f infrmatin frm the tw data surces ffers ptential fr the enhancement f understanding f AI epidemilgy. Hwever, at present the epidemilgical infrmatin cllected under the pultry survey is minimal and greatly restricts further analysis. This will smewhat imprve with the implementatin f the nline reprting system when sme additinal data such as the lcatin f the sampled hldings will be cllected. Hwever t further investigate the imprtance f pssible risk factrs fr infectin, mre detailed data is required. Althugh risk factrs are best investigated thrugh a case cntrl study, the annual survey may ffer a cst efficient means f cllecting extra infrmatin. Data n the number f birds tested as well as the number f birds present n the hlding, infrmatin n the results in separate epidemilgical grups n ne hlding (age, different huses) culd help t imprve knwledge n the spread within a flck, if serlgical and virlgical test results are cmbined. Harmnized data capture n the type f husing f the birds, the pssibility f expsure t wild birds as well recrding f any prtective measures implemented t prevent cntact with wild bids culd help t measure the effectiveness f such measures. Infrmatin n the presence and infectin status f ther types f pultry n hldings culd further enhance the epidemilgical understanding f AI. Attempts t retrieve virus islates frm serlgically psitive flcks shuld be maximised as this will aid in the separatin f imprtance f the rle f trade and wild birds in the transmissin f the virus. All f the abve infrmatin is very imprtant fr the further refinement f cntrl strategies fr AI and t establish an evidence-based priritisatin f resurces fr surveillance and cntrl measures such as vaccinatin. Reprting the utcmes f the epidemilgical investigatins n psitive hlding d have the ptential t allw a differentiatin f the mst likely rute f intrductin f the virus between pultry, fmite and wild birds and are valuable infrmatin. Cnsequently such infrmatin shuld be reprted t the CRL fr the inclusin in the annual reprt. In this year nly very few Member States did prvide sme infrmatin n the epidemilgical investigatins. 25

26 Cmpared t the csts and time required t cllect serlgical samples, the required resurces fr the cllectin f additinal data shuld be very small. Reference List EC, Cuncil Directive 92/40/EEC f 19 May 1992 intrducing Cmmunity measures fr the cntrl f avian influenza (Official Jurnal f the Eurpean Unin L 167, , p. 1 [repealed as f by Directive 2005/94/EC f , Official Jurnal f the Eurpean Unin L 10, , p.16]). EC, Cuncil Directive 2005/94/EC f 20 December 2005 n Cmmunity measures fr the cntrl f avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (Official Jurnal f the Eurpean Unin L 10, , p.16). EC, 2006a. Cmmissin Decisin 2006/101/EC f 6 February 2006 n the implementatin f survey prgrammes fr avian influenza in pultry and wild birds t be carried ut in the Member States in 2006 (Official Jurnal f the Eurpean Unin, L 46, , p. 40). EC, 2006b. Cmmissin Decisin 2006/314/EC f 16 March 2006 apprving the Member States survey prgrammes fr avian influenza in pultry and wild birds during 2006 (Official Jurnal f the Eurpean Unin, L 116, , p. 61). EFSA, Opinin f the Scientific Panel n Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) n animal health and welfare aspects f Avian Influenza SCAHAW, Opinin f the Scientific Cmmittee n Animal Health and Animal Welfare n the Definitin f avian influenza and the use f vaccinatin against avian influenza: 26

27 ANNEX I Member State Table 10 Ttal number f Chicken Breeder hldings, ttal number sampled and ttal number f psitive hldings reprted fr 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member State Ttal N. f Hldings Psitive Hldings Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Psitive Hldings Ttal H5 H7 AT BE NK CY CZ DE NK DK EE EL NK ES FI FR HU IE IT LT NK LU LV MT NL PL PT SE SI SK UK Ttal Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.04% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.37% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.15% Member State Table 11 Ttal number f Laying hens hldings, ttal number sampled, and ttal number f psitive hldings reprted fr 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member State Ttal N. f Hldings Psitive Hldings Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Psitive Hldings Ttal H5 H7 AT BE CY CZ DE NK DK EE EL NK ES FI FR HU IE IT LT NK LU LV MT NL PL PT SE SI SK UK Ttal Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.46% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.10% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.42% 27

28 Member State Table 12 Ttal number f Briler hldings, ttal number sampled, and ttal number f psitive hldings reprted fr 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member State Ttal N. f Hldings Psitive Hldings Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Psitive Hldings Ttal H5 H7 AT BE CY CZ DE NK DK EE EL NK ES FI FR HU IE IT LT NK LU LV MT NL PL PT SE SI SK UK Ttal Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.24% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.14% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.11% Member State Table 13 Ttal number f Fattening Turkey hldings, ttal number sampled, and ttal number f psitive hldings reprted fr 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member State Psitive Hldings Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Ttal N. Hldings f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N.f Ttal N. Hldings f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Ttal N. Hldings f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 AT BE CY CZ DE NK DK EE EL NK ES FI FR HU IE IT LT NK LU LV MT NL PL PT SE SI SK UK Ttal Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 2.11% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.32% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.43% 28

29 Member State Table 14 Ttal number f Breeder Turkey hldings, ttal number sampled, and ttal number f psitive hldings reprted fr 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member State Psitive Hldings Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Ttal N. Hldings f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N.f Ttal N. Hldings f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Ttal N. Hldings f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 AT BE CY CZ DE NK DK EE EL ES FI FR HU IE IT LT LU LV MT NL PL PT SE SI SK UK Ttal Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 3.38% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.86% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 8.76% Member State Table 15 Ttal number f Backyard Flck hldings, ttal number sampled, and ttal number f psitive hldings reprted fr 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Member State *Virlgical data/results in parentheses Psitive Hldings Ttal N.f Psitive Hldings Ttal N. Hldings f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Ttal H5 H7 Ttal N. f Hldings Ttal N.f Hldings Sampled Psitive Hldings Ttal H5 H7 AT BE CY CZ DE (12) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) NK DK EE EL ES FI FR HU NK IE IT LT NK LU LV NK MT NL PL PT SE SI SK UK Ttal (12) Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 18.80% (12.50%) Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 1.20% Upper 95% cnfidence limit fr verall prevalence 0.21% 29