Avian flu update
21 February 2023
Following on from our information and guidance on avian influenza (HPAI) in mammals, results to date continue to support low prevalence in the wild otter population.
Our ongoing screening is being carried out by Public Health Wales (PHW) at Wales Specialist Virology Centre, in collaboration with Dr Catherine Moore (Consultant Clinical Scientist, and lead for the virological surveillance of respiratory viruses). The Virology Centre is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the National Influenza Centre for Wales, and has a specific mandate to monitor for viruses which have the potential to cause a pandemic. This provides a crucial surveillance mechanism, and recognises the importance of the ‘One Health’ approach to integrated monitoring of human, wildlife and ecosystem health, to strengthen prevention of emerging zoonoses.
Four otters picked up by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in 2022 tested positive (originating from Skye, Orkney, and Fife; Defra updates). So far, of 63 otters received at Cardiff University Otter Project and screened for avian influenza (AI), just one has tested positive (see map, below). Viral load was low and subtyping was not possible, however, so we were unable to confirm whether or not this was HPAI, or low pathogenicity AI.
We will share regular updates on our website and via social media, making new data available as rapidly as possible.
Map of otters screened for AI. Symbols indicate location of origin. Black symbols: otters testing negative (n = 62), red: otters testing positive for AI (n = 1). Otters found in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are shown as diamonds, circles, squares, triangles, and crosses respectively. Cause of death of the otters shown here is unconfirmed at time of posting, with full post mortem examination pending for many of these otters. Typically around 85% of the otters we receive are roadkill. Results shown are based on molecular screening for the virus by APHA (batch 1, nasal and rectal swabs, 40/40 negative) or PHW (batches 2 & 3, nasal, rectal and tracheal swabs, 8/8 negative, and 14/15 negative, 1 positive for AI, respectively).
