A series of recommendations to prevent the entry and transmission of avian influenza among bird flocks in Europe has been made by the European Food Safety Authority’s Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) [1].

The panel considered the risks posed by avian influenza, migrating and imported birds, and bird products. The most serious risk identified was that of the potential mutation of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) into highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The AHAW panel recommended that LPAI strains H5 and H7 be subject to notification and control by legislation, just as HPAI now is because, in the past, these have mutated to highly pathogenic strains.

Contact between poultry and wild migratory birds that could carry avian influenza is a risk that cannot be entirely eliminated. The panel recommended that biosecurity measures, such as limiting movements and contacts of animals and people between farms, should be increased. The panel also recommended more education of farmers about avian influenza, and structured cooperation between avian influenza epidemiologists and ornithologists who map migratory bird routes.

The import of live birds and bird products from countries where there have been recent outbreaks of avian influenza is already banned in the European Union [2,3]. The panel believe this will be a more effective measure if LPAI is included and recognised by this legislation, and if the legislation is properly enforced. Import controls concerning live birds and poultry should be further tightened.

As poultry faeces are important means of spreading LPAI and HPAI viruses, the panel recommended that only appropriately treated faeces and litter should be permitted to be traded as animal manure. Poultry feathers and down which may be faecally contaminated must also be treated before importation.

Other key recommendations included the development of early warning systems for detection of LPAI, the identification of high risk exposure areas (close proximity to migratory bird pathways or wintering sites), safe distances being established between farms, regional planning rules for areas densely populated with poultry, contingency plans for mass culling of poultry in case of outbreaks, and the use of certain humane culling methods named by the panel. In the event of outbreaks, vaccination should also be considered as a control measure, if used in combination with other control measures.

The recommendations were presented at a meeting of the Chief Medical and Veterinary Officers on avian influenza at the European Commission on 22 September 2005 [4].The conclusions of this meeting included a recognition of the need for consistent and coordinated actions by national veterinary and public health authorities in preparing for the event of an avian influenza outbreak. More cooperation between public and animal health surveillance systems, epidemiologists and virologists is required, as well as more support for countries experiencing avian influenza outbreaks. Finally the meeting participants concluded that there was an urgent need to update avian influenza contingency plans and pandemic preparedness plans in all European countries.