The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reported that migratory wild birds crossing the eastern and north-eastern border of the EU are the main cause behind outbreak of the avian influenza. In response, research experts have checked out the risks of the avian influenza entering the European Union, while simultaneously reviewing the surveillance approaches of member states and the significant action undertaken to control the spread of the Avian Flu.
It has been reported that the initiatives taken by the European Union to create awareness among people regarding the occurrence of the avian influenza prior to the influenza season is likely to prevent the flu from spreading. In addition, to control its prevalence altogether, the EU states that if water birds are found dead during the influenza season, the incident must be promptly notified to local veterinary authorities.
EFSAs advice is primarily based on the information collected from the member states affected earlier by this epidemic. It has also been noted that the probability of virus transmission from birds to humans is quite rare, as avian viruses are not adapted to humans. According to EFSA’s analysis, cross-species transmission is very doubtful, owing to the zero-percentage prevalence of avian flu cases in humans across Europe.
After analyzing all the causes behind the occurrence of avian flu, EFSA has suggested preventive measures for poultry keepers and farmers to increase biosecurity, i.e., the association suggested farmers and poultry keepers to avoid direct contact between poultry and wild birds by keeping the poultry inside protective confines in the influenza season. Reportedly, EFSA’s suggestions will help farmers avoid considerable economic loss, especially in light of the recent poultry slaughtering incident that plagued France a while ago.
For the record, the EFSA has also advised that the blood analysis of farm water birds and live poultry such as geese and ducks for virus detection is also important to prevent the spreading of avian influenza virus from wild birds.