“The Risk of Avian Flu and Zoonotic Outbreaks: Expert Advice and Preparedness Strategies”

The increase in infections among wild mammals worldwide is a point of attention, say the experts. Bird flu (HPAI, H5N1) has been identified in mammals in several countries. In total, there are more than thirty types of viruses, whereby infections between mammals could not be ruled out.

Examples

For example, an outbreak of bird flu among mammals occurred on a mink farm in Spain and among sea lions in Peru. Meanwhile, HPAI has also been demonstrated in six people worldwide. Two people also developed symptoms.

These infections cause increased vigilance in the Netherlands, ‘certainly also because the Netherlands has one of the highest densities of animals in the world’, the cabinet writes.

Scenario’s

The expert group advises the cabinet to have scenarios developed for a possible zoonotic outbreak. ‘Scenarios can help to look more systematically at possible spreading routes and to be prepared for them.’

These scenarios must be used to examine whether the existing approach and legal basis provide sufficient tools to combat an outbreak and to test preparedness in the healthcare sector.

Monitoring

Monitoring is also important. The Council of Experts advises offering low-threshold diagnostics to all people who have been in contact with infected animals, in the event that they develop complaints.

For poultry farmers, the cabinet is working on adjusting the monitoring when avian flu has been diagnosed. Instead of passive monitoring, where the GGD can be called for testing if complaints develop, proactive monitoring is being developed.

In addition, everyone who has been exposed is offered a test, even if they have no complaints. In the first instance, this has been worked out for groups such as clearers, veterinarians and agricultural entrepreneurs who are involved in outbreaks among poultry.

Duty to report

RIVM has been asked to draw up an approach for this. It has also been requested that pig farmers be included in this monitoring. The Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is exploring how a duty to report highly pathogenic bird flu in pigs can be introduced. Consultation is also taking place with the parties involved.

More research

The experts also advise that long-term funding for research is needed to provide sufficient solutions for early warning surveillance, prevention and outbreak management and to explore new options. It also draws attention to the ecological impact of bird flu. More research should be done into the long-term effects of bird flu on ecology and biodiversity.

LNV and VWS are already commissioning a wide range of research into bird flu. These are often long-term, such as monitoring bird flu in wild birds and farmed animals. A bird flu consortium will be set up for the purpose of identifying knowledge gaps, in-depth (epidemiological) research, knowledge exchange and other relevant topics related to bird flu. Discussions on this are currently ongoing.