The situation regarding avian influenza continues to evolve in Europe and globally, with reports of new outbreaks in birds and occasional infections in mammals. Sporadic human infections have been reported in countries outside the EU, while the risk to the public in the EU remains low.
In February 2023, Cambodia reported a family cluster in Sithor Kandal district, Prey Veng province, with two people (a girl and her father) infected with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.
As of 10 February 2022, EU/EEA and EU-neighbouring countries reported 159 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infection, including 13 deaths, in 2021. The last case of this transmission season was reported by Greece in week 45.
The number of reported human cases of illness caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella bacteria across Europe appears to have stabilised over the past five years, according to the latest report on zoonotic diseases by EFSA and ECDC.
As of 1 February 2021, European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) Member States and EU-neighbouring countries reported 336 locally-acquired human cases of West Nile virus infections in 2020. The last case of this transmission season was reported by the Netherlands in week 47.
French authorities have reported an increased number of dengue cases in Martinique in recent months. The number of cases notified constitute the largest outbreak reported on the island in the last decade.
Since the beginning of January, outbreaks of high pathogenic A(H5N8) and low pathogenic A(H5N1) avian influenza viruses have been reported in the central eastern part of Europe. To minimise risk, people that are exposed to potentially infected birds should avoid direct unprotected contact to birds or their droppings and take appropriate personal protection measures.