A highly infectious bird flu virus has returned to Europe – but still poses a “very low” risk of to humans, according to European officials.
The A(H5N8) virus has returned through the autumn migration of wild birds – but has circulated continuously in Asia since 2010, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
It has never been found to infect humans – although this cannot be ruled out as it is in the same group as bird flu viruses that have caused severe disease in humans, the ECDC said.
It has advised affected countries to ensure that safety measures are taken by people handling poultry and birds.
The virus was first reported in a wild swan in Hungary and has since been found in poultry in Hungary, Austria and Germany.
It has been found in wild birds in the Netherlands, Croatia, Denmark, Poland and Switzerland.
A spokesman said: “On-going monitoring and testing of wild birds and domestic poultry in the EU plays an important role in the detection and protection against exposure and subsequent spread of the virus in poultry across Europe.
“This may equally minimise the human risk via exposure to infected birds.”
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