Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus Spread by Short- and Long-Range Transmission, France, 2016–17

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 508 - 516
• Main Authors: Briand, François-Xavier, Niqueux, Eric, Schmitz, Audrey, Martenot, Claire, Cherbonnel, Martine, Massin, Pascale, Kerbrat, Florian, Chatel, Marina, Guillemoto, Carole, Guillou-Cloarec, Cecile, Ogor, Katell, Le Prioux, Aurélie, Allée, Chantal, Beven, Véronique, Hirchaud, Edouard, Blanchard, Yannick, Scoizec, Axelle, Le Bouquin, Sophie, Eterradossi, Nicolas, Grasland, Béatrice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.02.2021; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Agriculture; Amino acids; Animal biology; Animals; Animals, Wild; Aquatic birds; Avian flu; Avian influenza; Birds; Disease; Disease Outbreaks; Disease transmission; Epidemics; epizootic; evolution; Farms; France; France - epidemiology; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Genotype; Genotypes; H5N8; Health aspects; highly pathogenic; Identification and classification; Infection control; Infections; influenza; Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype; Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype - genetics; Influenza in Birds; Influenza in Birds - epidemiology; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Methods; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Poultry; Poultry farming; Proteins; Software; Surveillance; Veterinary medicine and animal Health; Viruses; France; Europe; highly pathogenic; influenza; highly pathogenic avian influenza; viruses; avian influenza; epizootic; genotypes; viral zoonoses; zoonoses; evolution; transmission; H5N8; geoclusters; France
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2702.202920

We detected 3 genotypes of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) virus in France during winter 2016-17. Genotype A viruses caused dramatic economic losses in the domestic duck farm industry in southwestern France. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that genotype A viruses formed 5 distinct geographic clusters in southwestern France. In some clusters, local secondary transmission might have been started by a single introduction. The intensity of the viral spread seems to correspond to the density of duck holdings in each production area. To avoid the introduction of disease into an unaffected area, it is crucial that authorities limit the movements of potentially infected birds.