Protecting poultry from pathogens – knowledge building for future management, with focus on highly patogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and biosecurity

Since 2014 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have occurred frequently in Europe and the winter of 2020-2021 has meant the worst season to date for Sweden. Many dead wild birds have been reported with HPAI confirmed in several areas of the country. A total of 24 poultry herds have been infected.

Among these are different herd types, from backyard to large producers and breeding herds, organic and conventional. More than two million poultry have died from the disease or been euthanised. The industry has been hit hard and this has led to imports of hatching and table eggs.

In addition to animal suffering and affected producers, the outbreaks have generated direct economic losses around half a billion SEK. Outbreaks of HPAI are likely to occur again in the country.

Despite basic knowledge of viral spread and applying preventative measures, herds with high biosecurity have also been affected. The question is what can be done further to prevent future outbreaks. The purpose of the project is to investigate factors that may influence the introduction and spread of HPAI.

A risk factor study will compare affected and non-affected farms.

Systematic collection of data regarding biosecurity and occurrence of wild birds on farms will serve as a basis for the analysis, in addition to poultry register and geographical data. Special focus will be put on possible airborne introduction and spread. Statistical analysis will be carried out as well as disease spread modelling.