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The direct risk to the health of people in Europe from the avian influenza
detected in Romania and Turkey is very low, according to experts from
the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The risk
is almost entirely confined to people living on farms with infected
poultry or workers involved with culling (killing) and disposal of infected
birds.
There has been considerable confusion in the
media about the arrival of avian influenza A/H5N1 into bird flocks in
Europe and the arrival of pandemic influenza. Not only could
this confusion cause unnecessary anxiety and fear of harmless wild birds,
it could undermine efforts to prepare for a pandemic, as a pandemic
may not occur for several years and may not be caused by H5N1 avian
influenza at all. There are many other candidate human and animal influenza
strains.
The ECDC has recently published interim guidance for workers directly
involved in controlling avian influenza (1). The guidance will help
to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent human
infections among these workers. Protection is based on 6 (так
в оригинале:) principles:
(1) Controlling infection in birds
(2) Minimising the number of people possibly exposed to the virus
(3) Proper use of personal protective equipment for those working
with potentially infected animals
(4) Vaccinating the above described workers with seasonal influenza
vaccine, especially if seasonal influenza is circulating, to aid in
correct diagnosis of influenza-like illness and to minimise the chance
of viral reassortment should a person become dually infected.
(5) Careful surveillance for infection among those potentially exposed,
and instant treatment if cases identified
The precautions for the general public in Europe, whether or not they
are in a specific risk group in places where A/H5N1 is known or suspected
to be present, is normal good personal hygiene
(hand washing, especially after contact with birds) and in particular,
not touching birds found sick or dead. It is also recommended
that people follow pre-existing advice to cook eggs and poultry thoroughly
to prevent infection by salmonella and other organisms, as well as the
almost non-existent risk of avian
influenza. The advice to travellers to regions and countries where A/H5N1
is present remains the same as before. Precautions include avoiding
markets where live poultry is sold, avoiding contact with live poultry,
and good personal hygiene.
The full risk assessment, guidance for occupational risk in affected
regions and travel advice is available on the
ECDC website
Reference:
(1) ECDC. Occupational exposure -
Current International Guidance on Reducing the Risk of Transmission
to humans of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Birds. 13 October
2005
Low influenza activity in Europe
Summary: This is the 1st European
Influenza Surveillance System (EISS) bulletin of the 2005-2006 influenza
season. The intensity of clinical influenza activity is low in all parts
of Europe. Increasing activity is reported in England South and Central
and the Slovak Republic, but the incidence of influenza-like illness
is still at baseline levels. Between week 36 and week 41, 3 influenza
A cases and 2 influenza B cases have been reported in Great Britain
and one influenza A case in the Czech Republic. No human cases of influenza
A(H5N1) have been reported in Europe.
Epidemiological and virological situation: 19 of the 22 networks that
reported clinical data reported low intensity of clinical influenza
activity, meaning that there is either no influenza activity detectable
or influenza activity is at baseline levels. Except for England and
the Slovak Republic the influenza activity did not change compared to
the previous week. England South and Central and the Slovak Republic
reported an increasing intensity of influenza activity, whereas England
North reported a declining intensity.
In all parts of Europe the geographic spread indicator "no activity"
was reported, meaning that there is no evidence of influenza virus activity.
The total number of respiratory specimens collected by sentinel physicians
in week 41/2005 was 155. In addition, 453 non-sentinel specimens were
analyzed. None of these sentinel and non-sentinel specimens were positive
for influenza virus.
Comment: Based on data reported
so far, the current level of clinical influenza activity in Europe is
low (at baseline levels) and since week 36/2005 there were only sporadic
laboratory confirmed influenza cases reported in Great Britain and the
Czech Republic.
Among the respiratory specimens from sentinel and non-sentinel sources
reported to EISS between week 36 and week 41 of 2005 (N=1423), there
were 4 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A and 2 of influenza
B. Two of the influenza A cases (week 38, unsubtyped) and the influenza
B cases (week 39) were detected in Wales. The other influenza A cases
were detected in England North and in the Czech Republic (week 40, unsubtyped).
As the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1) has been detected
in birds in Europe (Romania and Turkey), EISS has started collection
of data on the detection of the A(H5N1) virus in humans as of 14 Oct
2005. Up to week 41/2005 no human cases have been reported in Europe.
Background: The Weekly Electronic
Bulletin presents and comments influenza activity in 25 European countries
(28 networks) that are members of the European Influenza Surveillance
Scheme (EISS). In week 41/2005, 22 networks reported clinical data and
21 networks reported virological data to EISS. The spread of influenza
virus strains and their epidemiological impact in Europe is being carefully
monitored by EISS in collaboration with the
WHO Collaborating Centre in London, UK.
The original report should be consulted for definition of the terms
employed and a map of influenza disribution
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