A lack of biosecurity measures is the likely cause of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak at small egg operation in Zurich, Switzerland, a recent report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) stated.
In March, it was reported that a small poultry holding where eggs were sold was the site of an HPAI case.
There were 44 laying hens at the farm, and of those 14 had died. Swab samples were taken of the chickens, which tested positive for H5N1 HPAI by the Institute of Virology and Immunology.
An updated report on the situation was released this week by the WOAH, where it was determined that because the selling point of eggs was inside the area where the birds were kept, the virus likely entered the site via customers who bought eggs.
“The selling point of eggs is inside the animal location. Customers could freely enter the stable to pick up eggs. Biosecurity measures were not in place. Hence, the virus most probably entered on the shoes or clothes of customers into the establishment. In the same region, avian influenza in wild birds has been confirmed before and is considered to be circulating at present,” the report stated.
WOAH also noted that control measures to protect poultry, including keeping the birds inside, had been in place at this property since November 2022, and there were no epidemiologically relevant contacts to other establishments keeping poultry.
HPAI in Swiss non-poultry
In a separate report that offered updates on HPAI cases in non-poultry in Switzerland, WOAH said 227 domestic and wild birds have died as a result of an HPAI infection, while an additional 83 birds were euthanized and disposed of.
Confirmed cases of HPAI in non-poultry birds in Switzerland to date have involved the following species: grey heron, Eurasian buzzard, black-headed gull, white stork, black swan, mute swan, peregrine falcon, Caspian gull, yellow-legged gull, red kite, great crested grebe, common tern and little grebe.
