Avian influenza in wild birds

In 2020, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected for the first time in wild birds in Norway. A number of detections of HPAI H5N1 in wild birds have been done so far this season (2021/2022).

Avian influenza (AI) is monitored in wild birds and in poultry.

The surveillance programme for AI in wild birds serves as a potential early detection and monitoring system in relation to influenza A viruses of avian origin, with special emphasis on HPAI H5 and H7 subtype viruses in the wild bird reservoir.

The main goal of the surveillance programme for AI in poultry is to document that Norwegian poultry flocks are free of influenza A infections of the subtypes H5 and H7.

2023

Influenza A virus was detected in 164 of 926 wild birds examined in the surveillance programme for avian influenza in Norway in 2023. Active surveillance detected influenza A virus in 52 birds, of which one was characterised as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5Nx. Passive surveillance detected influenza A virus in 112 birds, of which 102 were identified as HPAI H5. Eighty-four of the HPAI detections in wild birds in 2023 were H5N1, eight were H5N5, and ten were H5Nx. Of sixteen wild mammals tested as part of passive surveillance, one red fox (Vulpes vulpes) tested positive for HPAI H5N1.

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