The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a recommendation for cat and dog owners to keep their pets indoors in response to a surge in avian influenza cases worldwide. This guidance comes after 24 cats tested positive for the virus in Poland.

<h2>EFSA recommendation</h2>

To prevent exposure, EFSA has advised pet owners to avoid contact between domestic cats, dogs, and other carnivorous pets with dead or sick animals.

"Possible measures are keeping dogs on a leash, and confining cats indoors in areas where extensive circulation of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] viruses in wild birds has been confirmed," it said in a bulletin.

The EFSA's recommendation serves as a precautionary measure to protect pets from avian influenza and mitigate the risk of further transmission.

Italy has reported infections in five dogs and one cat in recent weeks, while Poland has witnessed 24 cases in domestic cats across various regions since June 10.

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The exact source of contamination has not yet been determined, but one hypothesis is that the infected animals may have consumed raw poultry meat contaminated with the virus.

<h2>A 'bird flu' vaccine for birds</h2>

In response to the escalating cases of bird flu, in April, the United States begun testing several vaccine candidates for potential use in birds.

As per AFP, France aims to commence poultry vaccination as early as autumn this year.

However, Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, cautioned that vaccination alone is not a definitive solution as the virus continually evolves. In his words, vaccinating poultry was not a "a silver bullet because the virus changes constantly."

<h2>Bird flu and humans</h2>

Avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus, had previously been mostly limited to seasonal outbreaks since its emergence in 1996. However, in mid-2021, a significant change occurred, making the group of viruses much more infectious, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre that studies influenza in animals.

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Although rare, humans can contract the avian influenza virus, typically after close contact with infected birds. In recent times, the virus has also been detected in an increasing number of mammals.

On Wednesday, the WHO also issued a warning that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks among mammals could facilitate the transmission of the virus to humans.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a recommendation for cat and dog owners to keep their pets indoors in response to a surge in avian influenza cases worldwide.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a recommendation for cat and dog owners to keep their pets indoors in response to a surge in avian influenza cases worldwide. This guidance comes after 24 cats tested positive for the virus in Poland. EFSA recommendation To prevent exposure, EFSA has advised pet owners to avoid contact between domestic cats, dogs, and other carnivorous pets with dead or sick animals. "Possible measures are keeping dogs on a leash, and confining cats indoors in areas where extensive circulation of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] viruses in wild birds has been confirmed," it said in a bulletin. The EFSA's recommendation serves as a precautionary measure to protect pets from avian influenza and mitigate the risk of further transmission. Italy has reported infections in five dogs and one cat in recent weeks, while Poland has witnessed 24 cases in domestic cats across various regions since June 10. Also read | 'Success is possible': UNAIDS insists 'end of AIDS' is still possible by 2030, urges global action The exact source of contamination has not yet been determined, but one hypothesis is that the infected animals may have consumed raw poultry meat contaminated with the virus. A 'bird flu' vaccine for birds In response to the escalating cases of bird flu, in April, the United States begun testing several vaccine candidates for potential use in birds. As per AFP, France aims to commence poultry vaccination as early as autumn this year. However, Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, cautioned that vaccination alone is not a definitive solution as the virus continually evolves. In his words, vaccinating poultry was not a "a silver bullet because the virus changes constantly." Bird flu and humans Avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus, had previously been mostly limited to seasonal outbreaks since its emergence in 1996. However, in mid-2021, a significant change occurred, making the group of viruses much more infectious, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre that studies influenza in animals. Also read | Alarming warning from WHO: Bird flu poses increased risk of adapting to humans Although rare, humans can contract the avian influenza virus, typically after close contact with infected birds. In recent times, the virus has also been detected in an increasing number of mammals. On Wednesday, the WHO also issued a warning that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks among mammals could facilitate the transmission of the virus to humans. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EU agency urges pet owners to keep cats and dogs indoors amid rising cases of avian influenza

In what is being touted as the worst-ever bird flu outbreak in Europe this year, there were almost 2,500 outbreaks of the flu that were detected on farms in 37 European countries, between October 2021 and September 2022, declared the European Food Safety Authority, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the EU, according to AFP reports.

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Almost 50 million birds were slaughtered on affected farms, said the EFSA and this toll did not include preventive culls of chickens, ducks and turkeys that were carried out alongside the outbreaks, the health agency told AFP. It also said that for the first time, there was no marked separation between two epidemic waves, as the virus was not brought under control in the summer. The number of infected farms was 35 per cent higher this autumn, the epidemic was more virulent than last year at the same time.&nbsp;

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The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that the risk of infection in humans was low, and in between low to medium for people working in contact with birds and poultry. Between September 2 and December 10, 2022, around 400 outbreaks were recorded on farms in 18 European countries.

The virus has also been detected more than 600 times in wild birds, notably ducks and swans, which the report said may have contributed to the spread of the virus between farms.

Watch | Gravitas: Growing concern over bird flu cases in Europe, U.K.
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Currently, health authorities are studying the possibility of using vaccinations to arrest the spread of the virus.

In what is being touted as the worst-ever bird flu outbreak in Europe this year, there were almost 2,500 outbreaks of the flu that were detected on farms in 37 European countries, between October 2021 and September 2022, declared the European Food Safety Authority, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the EU, according to AFP reports.

In what is being touted as the worst-ever bird flu outbreak in Europe this year, there were almost 2,500 outbreaks of the flu that were detected on farms in 37 European countries, between October 2021 and September 2022, declared the European Food Safety Authority, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the EU, according to AFP reports. Read now | New COVID-19 wave to hit Europe ‘in coming week’, warns watchdog Almost 50 million birds were slaughtered on affected farms, said the EFSA and this toll did not include preventive culls of chickens, ducks and turkeys that were carried out alongside the outbreaks, the health agency told AFP. It also said that for the first time, there was no marked separation between two epidemic waves, as the virus was not brought under control in the summer. The number of infected farms was 35 per cent higher this autumn, the epidemic was more virulent than last year at the same time. Read now | Bird flu crisis in Europe The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that the risk of infection in humans was low, and in between low to medium for people working in contact with birds and poultry. Between September 2 and December 10, 2022, around 400 outbreaks were recorded on farms in 18 European countries. The virus has also been detected more than 600 times in wild birds, notably ducks and swans, which the report said may have contributed to the spread of the virus between farms. Watch | Gravitas: Growing concern over bird flu cases in Europe, U.K. Currently, health authorities are studying the possibility of using vaccinations to arrest the spread of the virus.

Worst ever bird flu outbreak in Europe this year, declares EU

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