Emerging Infectious Diseases (Dec 2017)

Deaths among Wild Birds during Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus Outbreak, the Netherlands

  • Erik Kleyheeg,
  • Roy Slaterus,
  • Rogier Bodewes,
  • Jolianne M. Rijks,
  • Marcel A.H. Spierenburg,
  • Nancy Beerens,
  • Leon Kelder,
  • Marjolein J. Poen,
  • Jan A. Stegeman,
  • Ron A.M. Fouchier,
  • Thijs Kuiken,
  • Henk P. van der Jeugd

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2312.171086
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 12
pp. 2050 – 2054

Abstract

Read online

During autumn–winter 2016–2017, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses caused mass die-offs among wild birds in the Netherlands. Among the ≈13,600 birds reported dead, most were tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula) and Eurasian wigeons (Anas penelope). Recurrence of avian influenza outbreaks might alter wild bird population dynamics.

Keywords