Avian influenza/Newcastle disease subcommittee report

Authors: Suarez, David

Submitted to: United States Animal Health Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a viral disease of both poultry and wild birds that can cause severe disease and death in infected animals. Control of the disease is often by testing and depopulation, but vaccines can also control the disease. Newcastle disease is also caused by a virus and it can also cause severe disease and dath in poultry, although vaccination is more likely to be used. A review of recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) from the last year outside the United States are reviewed. The largest outbreak is related to the H5 goose/Guangdong/1996 lineage of HPAI. The virus is widespread on 6 continents and is causing outbreaks both in wild birds and in poultry. Vaccination is used in some countries, but control is difficult because of the widespread presence of virus in wild birds. In Europe vaccination of ducks has started in 2023 which appears to have greatly reduced the number of outbreaks in ducks. Separate outbreak of H& HPAI have occurred in Australia, South Africa, China and Mexico. The Australian and South African outbreaks are new and the Chinese and Mexican outbreaks are persistent infections that are being contained but not eliminated with vaccinations. Zoonotic infections continue to occur with both low pathogenic avian influenza and highly pathogenic avian influenza. The number of cases range from mild to fatal, but the number of cases each remains small. Several cases of NDV were also reported in Brazil, Taiwan and Sweden, although the virus is commonly found in Asia, African and South America.

Technical Abstract: A review of recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) from the last year outside the United States are reviewed. The largest outbreak is related to the H5 goose/Guangdong/1996 lineage of HPAI. The virus is widespread on 6 continents and is causing outbreaks both in wild birds and in poultry. Vaccination is used in some countries, but control is difficult because of the widespread presence of virus in wild birds. In Europe vaccination of ducks has started in 2023 which appears to have greatly reduced the number of outbreaks in ducks. Separate outbreak of H& HPAI have occurred in Australia, South Africa, China and Mexico. The Australian and South African outbreaks are new and the Chinese and Mexican outbreaks are persistent infections that are being contained but not eliminated with vaccinations. Zoonotic infections continue to occur with both low pathogenic avian influenza and highly pathogenic avian influenza. The number of cases range from mild to fatal, but the number of cases each remains small. Several cases of NDV were also reported in Brazil, Taiwan and Sweden, although the virus is commonly found in Asia, African and South America.