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influenza summary page
Browse the Theme
 Facts and figures
Links between human and avian influenza
EU Response
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Avian Influenza
Current situation
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Documented Avian Influenza Infection in Humans
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Documented avian influenza infections in humans (1997-2006)
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Distribution H5N1 cases by age group up to date
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Links between human and avian influenza
Influenza viruses are
classified as types A, B
and C, and they are
found in various birds and
mammals, including humans.
In addition to man,
influenza A viruses
cause natural infections in
birds while influenza B and
C types usually affect
humans. Influenza A
viruses are also frequently
isolated from pigs and
horses. Wild birds are
thought to be the reservoir
of influenza A
viruses.
Avian Influenza (AI) is a
serious disease of poultry
occuring more and more
frequently all over the
world. The recent spread in
bird populations in Asia is
unprecedented. Two groups
of viruses are recognised
on the basis of their
ability to cause disease in
poultry: Highly
Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI) and Low
Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (LPAI).
Learn more about HPAI and
LPAI on the Animal Health
and Welfare
Website.
Influenza A viruses have a
segmented genome allowing
for genetic
re-assortment. As a
result, circulating
influenza viruses show a
high level of genetic
variations and may
develop the capability
of crossing the species
barrier. Animal
husbandry systems where
humans live in close
cohabitation with
poultry and pigs are
considered as potential
sources of new strains
capable to cross the
species barrier from animal
to man. Avian influenza
viruses able to infect
humans and to spread easily
from person to person may
cause an influenza
pandemic.
The reported
symptoms of avian
influenza in humans range
from typical influenza-like
symptoms (e.g., fever,
cough, sore throat, and
muscle aches) to eye
infections
(conjunctivitis),
pneumonia, acute
respiratory distress, viral
pneumonia, and other severe
and life-threatening
complications.
Humans are not commonly
affected by avian
influenza.
However, the large
epidemics of highly
pathogenic avian influenza
that currently affect
poultry in Asia, and the
widespread presence of the
virus in the environment
increase opportunities for
human exposure and
infection. In fact,
over the past years, avian
influenza infections in
humans have been repeatedly
reported from Asia.
Stringent measures such as
large scale culling of
affected poultry are
believed to have prevented
the evolution of these
outbreaks towards a
pandemic. The
Office International des
Epizooties OIE and the
Food
and Agricultural
Organisation FAO
maintain rapid alert and
notification systems on
animal health and food
safety that cover
influenza.
Analysis of the evidence available
during past outbreaks
indicates that:
- the majority of human
infections is caused by
HPAI viruses following
direct exposure to infected
birds.
- direct contact with
infected poultry appears to
be the favourite way of
transmission from poultry
to humans.
- human to human
transmission is very
limited;
- only HPAI viruses are
fatal to humans.
- considering the massive
exposure, there are very
few human infections
resulting from HPAI.
EU response
Firstly, legislation
adopted by the EU to
prevent the spread of avian
influenza amongst birds and
poultry (control
measures to be applied,
preventive vaccination) has
a direct impact on human
health. These measures
contribute to reduce the
opportunities for human
exposure and
infection.
Learn more about EU
measures in the animal
health domain
In addition, according to
the terms of the
Decision No
2119
of the European Parliament
and of the Council, the
EU took some measures to
watch over the disease and
to facilitate
communication between
Community health services
and Member States
concerning avian influenza
:
Since the first human
cases have been notified
by Viet Nam, the
Commission services have
facilitated communication
at community level.
Through the activation of
the EU Early Warning
and Response System,
Member States,
EEA/EFTA and acceding
countries are sharing
information on measures
that they have undertaken
or that they have planned
to implement.
A restricted web-based
portal Health
Emergency & Diseases
Information System
(HEDIS) has been
developed. The site is
designed to support
Community services and
Member States during
disease outbreaks and
health emergencies.
It is currently used to
provide a central point
of access to all
information concerning
avian influenza derived
from various sources
available: news, press
releases, updated
situational maps, online
questionnaires, activity
logbook, virtual
meetings, access to
relevant documents,
discussion forums,
etc.
At global level, the
European Commission
contributes to the
assistance offered to
affected countries.
International
cooperation has been
set up to assist these
countries to control and
eradicate the disease in
poultry. The Commission
closely cooperates with
the WHO to follow the
evolution of the
disease.
Furthermore, avian
influenza in humans may
be a potential source of
pandemic influenza.
Concerning this issue,
the Commission actively
collaborates with Member
States and the WHO to
develop influenza
pandemic preparedness
planning at EU
level.
Learn
more about influenza
pandemic preparedness
planning
The European
Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control
(ECDC), an EU Agency
created in 2004 to help
strengthen Europe's
defences against infectious
diseases, has taken over
the task to provide
scientific advice on risk
assessment and to
coordinate influenza
surveillance at EU level.
The ECDC has issued several
documents:
More ECDC
documents
The
European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA), the
EU Agency providing
scientific advice on all
matters on nutrition in
relation to community
legislation, issued a
report on avian influenza
and food safety.
Learn more about avian
influenza and food
safety
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