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27 April 2022
Authored by Dr Michelle Wille and Deputy Director Ian Barr, this article outlines the facets to the resurgence of H5N1 avian influenza virus.
Since October 2021, there have been >3000 outbreaks of avian influenza, with substantial losses in poultry, mass mortality events in wild birds, and human cases being reported.
For wild birds, the 2.3.4.4 lineage of H5Nx virus has been devastating, with thousands dying in mass mortality events. For example, early 2021 saw approximately 10% of Barnacle Geese (that breed in Svalbard, Norway) die due to this disease.
Human cases of avian influenza are of concern. While the risk for human tranmission is generally low, this risk increases for people who are in contact with poultry. To date, there have been cases in China, Laos, Russia, Nigeria, and the UK, for people who fall into this category.
Overall, H5Nx avian influenza is a One Health problem, that can likely only be solved with a One Health solution.
Wille M, Barr IG. Resurgence of avian influenza virus. Science. 2022. DOI: 10.1126/science.abo1232
5 January, 2021
Congratulations to Dr Michelle Wille from the Centre, who has received the best 2020 article award from the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS). The article is a review on coronaviruses that are found in wild birds, which is a particularly important topic, given the current COVID-19 global pandemic.
The article is accesible via this link here
Wille M, Holmes EC. Wild birds as reservoirs for diverse and abundant gamma- and deltacoronaviruses. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2020 Sep 1;44(5):631-644. doi: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa026.
4 December, 2020
We have ammended our sample submission form to reflect new guidelines set by the WHO. Please refer to our Shipping Instructions page for a copy of this new form and for more details.
1 July, 2020
Centre Director Professor Kanta Subbarao and Deputy Director Professor Ian Barr have released a statement regarding the recent publication, 'Prevalent Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus with 2009 pandemic viral genes facilitating human infection' by Sun H. et. al. 2020 (doi10.1073/pnas.1921186117).
The statement is available here