Zoonotic influenza - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2020

Surveillance report
26 Aug 2021
Publication series: Annual Epidemiological Report on Communicable Diseases in Europe
Time period covered: This report is based on data for 2020, retrieved on 2 June 2021.
Cite:

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Zoonotic influenza. In: ECDC. Annual epidemiological report for 2020. Stockholm: ECDC; 2021.

No human cases of avian influenza were reported in the EU/EEA for 2020. Sporadic human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1), A(H5N6, A(H5N8) and A(H9N2) infection were reported. In 2020, outbreaks and detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, mainly A(H5) of clade 2.3.4.4, continued to affect poultry, wild and captured birds worldwide. Influenza virus A(H1N1)v, A(H1N2)v and A(H3N2)v of swine origin caused sporadic human cases in Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, the Netherland, and the United States. Slightly more human cases were identified, probably due to greater awareness, combined with more targeted testing in those with respiratory symptoms during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.