May 31, 2005
EU's new directive on bird flu to include LPAI surveillance
The European Commission has adopted a new directive to enhance measures for the control of Avian Influenza. The directive, to be implemented by January 2007, is to replace the existing one, which established compulsory disease control measures for Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI). This new directive will also require compulsory surveillance for Low Pathogenic AI (LPAI) in all member states.
Main features of the proposed directive include:
- Change in the definition of AI to extend control measures to those LPAI viruses which could potentially mutate into HPAI viruses, and making a distinction between the two conditions to be able to apply specific control measures to the different risks posed by these viruses.
- Introduction of compulsory surveillance for LPAI in all member states.
- New and more flexible provisions on vaccination.
- New provisions to ensure cooperation between veterinary and public health authorities in member states, in case of an AI outbreak, with the view of protecting human health.
- Establishing an AI vaccine bank.
In the last five years, two major outbreaks of HPAI occurred in the EU: in Italy (1999-2000) and in the Netherlands (2003), with secondary spread to Belgium and Germany.
Estimates of the expenditure incurred to compensate for the stamping out measures and for cleansing and disinfections from these two outbreaks range from 101-174 million euro, not including the cost to the whole poultry industry. It is thought that the proposed measures would have prevented at least one of the outbreaks.
In recent years, the number of AI outbreaks has increased significantly in the world. The ongoing outbreaks of HPAI from H5N1 virus strains throughout South-east Asia have alarmed the FAO, WHO and OIE, because of the potential risk for a human influenza pandemic. Already, this animal health problem is estimated to have turned into a serious human health concern, which needs increased attention.
