BRUSSELS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) said on Wednesday that new outbreaks of influenza have been reported among wild birds and poultry across Europe since the end of October this year.
The European Commission has called on member states to be vigilant and to reduce the risk of further outbreaks.
The avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus has been identified in Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. No human cases of HPAI H5N8 have been reported in the 28-member bloc.
Experts of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are supporting member states in their data collection activities to identify how the virus enters poultry farms and the risks posed by wild birds.
This information will help EFSA to re-assess the risk of introduction of avian influenza into the EU based on new scientific knowledge.
EFSA has worked on this topic extensively in recent years. Its work has included a scientific opinion on migratory wild birds and their possible role in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
