Abstract
Since 2020, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of subtype H5 clade 2.3.4.4b have caused severe epizootics in wild and domestic birds in Eurasia and Africa spreading to the Americas in 2022. This clade has caused the most severe HPAI panzootic to date and is has established enzootic status in Europe. It affects not only birds, but also wild and domestic mammals and, on rare occasions, also humans.
Since 2022, colonial breeding birds along the East-Atlantic flyway have been particularly affected, with significant losses in Europe and West Africa (Senegal, Gambia, Guinea). The lack of clear outbreak management guidelines has left many conservationists and site managers handling crises alone, with thousands of infected, dead birds or mammals stranded on shores.
In 2023, joint (ecological) risk assessments were carried out in Germany, The Gambia and Guinea, bringing together decision-makers and experts in virology, public health, human medicine, veterinary epidemiology, and ornithology to identify the most effective and suitable management options. Using a clear, step-wise interactive workflow during which diverse, specialized and local knowledge was shared, analysed and prioritized helped to develop effective and novel solutions, based on the local conditions. For example, using webcams in breeding tern colonies to early spot mortalities in coastal areas of Germany, or, restricting access to the affected area to interrupt transmission chains in Guinea.
This participatory One Health approach, following the structure of a qualitative risk assessment effectively addresses and mitigates zoonotic disease risks and helps prevent further transmissions.
Since 2022, colonial breeding birds along the East-Atlantic flyway have been particularly affected, with significant losses in Europe and West Africa (Senegal, Gambia, Guinea). The lack of clear outbreak management guidelines has left many conservationists and site managers handling crises alone, with thousands of infected, dead birds or mammals stranded on shores.
In 2023, joint (ecological) risk assessments were carried out in Germany, The Gambia and Guinea, bringing together decision-makers and experts in virology, public health, human medicine, veterinary epidemiology, and ornithology to identify the most effective and suitable management options. Using a clear, step-wise interactive workflow during which diverse, specialized and local knowledge was shared, analysed and prioritized helped to develop effective and novel solutions, based on the local conditions. For example, using webcams in breeding tern colonies to early spot mortalities in coastal areas of Germany, or, restricting access to the affected area to interrupt transmission chains in Guinea.
This participatory One Health approach, following the structure of a qualitative risk assessment effectively addresses and mitigates zoonotic disease risks and helps prevent further transmissions.
Co-Author(s)
Anja Globig a, Kristine Meise b, Katja Schulz c, Saidal Ali Bah d, Florian Packmor e, Lisa von Stebut f, Tina Krüger f, Joaquin Neumann-Heise a, Francis Nuvey a, Klaas Dietze a, Sascha Knauf a,g
a Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
b Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
c Institute of Epidemiology, FLI, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
d Central Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Livestock Services, Abuko, The Gambia
e Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Authority, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
f Deutsche (German) Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
g Professorship for One Health/International Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
Abstract Category
Mortality estimations, impacts on harvest, conservation considerations, and potential mitigation strategies in wild birds