Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that occurs primarily in poultry and wild water birds.Even if the transmission from animals to humans can happen, human infection risk remains very low for the general population and moderately low for occupationally exposed people. Between December 2020 and February 2021 around 1,000 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were notified in 25 European Union countries and the United Kingdom. Most of those detections were reported in domestic poultry farms. Given this rapid spread of the HPAI virus across Europe, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the joint scientific report 'Avian influenza overview December 2020 – February 2021' in collaboration with competent national authorities, the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and other international organisations. Although not the main topic of the report, occupational safety and health issues are shortly addressed through information provided by EU-OSHA. Find out the full publication 'Avian influenza overview December 2020 – February 2021'  For more information on OSH issues in animal-related professions see a recent EU-OSHA study on biological agents in the workplace and a related article on risks in animal-related activities and professions. Let's block ads! (Why?)