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#Russia health authority is conducting additional #monitoring of #birdflu in #livestock #farms with #cows

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By G.M.

{Automatic Translation}

Since 2020, the world has seen an increase in the number of outbreaks of avian influenza caused by the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus and an expansion of the geography of circulation of this virus.

In 2024, more than 1.2 thousand outbreaks of influenza A (H5N1) among wild birds and about 2 thousand outbreaks among poultry were registered in the world. The infection affected 68 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, and also reached Antarctica.

In addition, in 2024, a large number of cases of detection of the influenza A (H5N1) virus among wild and domestic mammals were recorded, including with subsequent infection of people. These include outbreaks among cattle on US dairy farms, which by the end of the year affected more than 900 dairy farms in 16 states. The avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, isolated from cows, also caused illness in 40 people - farm workers. At the same time, the influenza A(H5N1) viruses detected in cows and humans contained mutations of adaptation to mammals.

High activity of A(H5N1) virus circulation, including among mammals, accumulation of mutations of adaptation to mammals, growth in the number of cases of human infection indicate an increasing risk of interspecies transition of this virus from mammals to humans.

Since 2013, Rospotrebnadzor has created and is operating a system for monitoring the circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Russian Federation. The system includes regular studies of biomaterial samples taken from birds and animals in Russian regions located in bird migration zones, as well as studies of biomaterial samples obtained from foci of highly pathogenic avian influenza, both from the birds themselves and from people caring for them. In addition, monitoring of the avian influenza situation in foreign countries is carried out.

Primary studies of biomaterial samples are carried out in Rospotrebnadzor laboratories in the regions of Russia. In-depth molecular genetic studies of viruses are carried out at the reference center for zoonotic avian influenza caused by highly pathogenic strains, operating on the basis of the Federal Budgetary Institution of Science State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector of Rospotrebnadzor, which is also a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization for the Study of Influenza at the Intersection Points of Human and Animal Ecosystems.

As part of the monitoring carried out in 2024, more than 15 thousand samples of biomaterial from wild and domestic birds and pigs, as well as 7.8 thousand samples of material from people who, due to the nature of their work, come into contact with wild or domestic birds, were studied. All viruses isolated in 2024 belong to clade 2.3.4.4b, do not contain mutations of increased pathogenicity and drug resistance, with the exception of the avian influenza virus A (H5N1), isolated from birds in the Sakhalin Oblast - a mutation was identified that can increase virulence and ensure adaptation of the virus to mammalian cells.

Due to the registration of a significant number of outbreaks of avian influenza A (H5N1) on dairy farms in the United States, Rospotrebnadzor has also introduced additional monitoring of avian influenza in livestock farms containing cows in the Russian Federation since December 2024. 

Since December 2024, 11.6 thousand samples of material from cattle, including 5 thousand samples of milk, have been collected and tested in 84 regions; as well as more than 4.2 thousand samples of material from people caring for animals. More than 14.7 thousand samples of material have already been tested, including more than 11.3 thousand samples of material from cattle. No genetic material of avian influenza viruses was found in the tested samples.

The situation is under the control of Rospotrebnadzor.

Source: Ministry of Health, https://rospotrebnadzor.ru/about/info/news/news_details.php?ELEMENT_ID=29425

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