H5N8 AVIAN INLUENZA VIRUSES IN FRANCE HAS NO RISK OF TRANSMISSION TO HUMANS

USPA NEWS - Avian influenza: the H5N8 viruses isolated in France from poultry since the start of the epizootic do not present a risk of transmission to humans.A first case of transmission to humans of an H5N8 avian influenza virus raging in Russia to the World Health Organization (WHO). Seven employees working on a farm in southern Russia were said to have been contaminated through contact with poultry, without human-to-human transmission having been demonstrated. The ministers in charge of agriculture and health wish to recall the measures put in place in France to monitor and manage the avian influenza epizootic. (Source: French Ministry of Agriculture)

The ministers in charge of agriculture and health wish to recall the measures put in place in France to monitor and manage the avian influenza epizootic. The avian influenza epizootic which has raged in France and in particular in the South-West since December 2020 (466 outbreaks detected to date) is the subject of continuous monitoring by ANSES in connection with the services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. To date, 130 complete viral sequences have thus been obtained. None of the analyzes carried out by ANSES showed any properties giving rise to fear of a risk of transmission to humans of the avian influenza virus present in poultry in France.The ANSES teams are studying the information with the greatest attention, in particular the sequencing of the virus detected in infected persons and their comparison with viruses circulating in poultry in France. The results of the comparison of the sequences of the Russian virus and the viruses circulating in our territory will be communicated as soon as possible.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Santé Publique France, in charge of human surveillance, and the National Reference Center for respiratory viruses including influenza, were also contacted to jointly conduct this risk analysis.----------------------------------------------------------------------- For several weeks, the epizootic has slowed down sharply in France. The preventive slaughter strategy that has been carried out has shown its effectiveness in stopping the progression of the virus on farms. These depopulations have resulted in the slaughter of around 3 million poultry (mainly palmipeds) and this depopulation strategy will continue to be applied to any new suspicion in the southwest to curb any risk of dissemination as quickly as possible. virus. The risk of contamination of poultry by wildlife nevertheless remains high throughout the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Julien Denormandie insists on the need to scrupulously apply biosecurity measures to avoid the introduction of the avian influenza virus in farms and backyards. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture)