Europe has had its worst bird flu crisis this year, with almost 50 million birds culled, and the persistence of the virus over the summer has increased the risk of widespread infections in the coming season. , said the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). .

Read also : The pursuit of convenience and health drives demand for chicken in China

An unprecedented number of outbreaks have been reported in wild and domestic birds during the Northern Hemisphere summer, causing mass mortality among seabird colonies on the northern Atlantic coast, according to a joint opinion from EFSA of the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and Control and European Union Reference Laboratory.

▶️ Globo Rural is on CBN Radio! Listen to today’s newsletter

Bird flu usually strikes during the fall and winter months. It is transmitted through the droppings of infected migratory wild birds or through direct contact with contaminated food, clothing and equipment.

“As the autumn migration begins and the number of wild birds wintering in Europe increases, they are likely to be at greater risk of infection with avian influenza than in previous years due to the observed persistence of the virus in Europe,” Guilhem said. de Seze, a senior EFSA official, in a statement on Monday.

This season’s outbreak has affected a total of 37 European countries, the widest geographic range on record, and the virus has crossed the Atlantic for the first time along migratory routes, causing a severe outbreak of birds in several Canadian provinces and US states, EFSA said.

Overall, this season’s bird flu crisis is the worst ever in Europe, with a total of 2,467 outbreaks reported and 47.7 million birds culled.

Additionally, 187 detections were reported in captive birds and 3,573 IAAP events were recorded in wild birds.

The agency recommended the rapid implementation of risk mitigation and surveillance strategies for early detection of the virus.

Want to access exclusive Globo Rural content Just click and subscribe!