Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jun 2021)

Incursion of Novel Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus, the Netherlands, October 2020

  • Nancy Beerens,
  • Rene Heutink,
  • Frank Harders,
  • Marit Roose,
  • Sylvia B.E. Pritz-Verschuren,
  • Evelien A. Germeraad,
  • Marc Engelsma

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2706.204464
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 6
pp. 1750 – 1753

Abstract

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Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) virus was detected in mute swans in the Netherlands during October 2020. The virus shares a common ancestor with clade 2.3.4.4b viruses detected in Egypt during 2018–2019 and has similar genetic composition. The virus is not directly related to H5N8 viruses from Europe detected in the first half of 2020.

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