Public health response to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) among poultry in Northeast of Ireland, November 2021 to January 2022

Abstract

Objectives: Human infections from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 are associated with significant morbidity and mortality internationally. This study aimed to use routinely available data to examine key strategies to prevent H5N1 transmission to humans during outbreaks in poultry in residents in Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan.

Study design: This was a cross-sectional based study.

Methods: Data were obtained from Health Protection Team in the Department of Public Health, HSE North East and Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM). Data entry and analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel 2016.

Results: The public health response focussed on contact tracing, monitoring and follow-up for household, farm workers and DAFM staff exposed on the affected farms. A total of 157 contact episodes were identified. Contacts received advice about active monitoring from their last exposure. A total of 111 (80%) were recommended chemoprophylaxis for exposure to HPAI H5N1. During the active monitoring period, two contacts developed acute respiratory symptoms, and parainfluenza 3 and rhino/enterovirus were identified in these individuals, respectively.

Conclusions: The findings of this study, using routinely gathered data, highlighted that collaboration between public health and DAFM at regional and national levels was key to rapid response to these outbreaks of HPAI in domesticated poultry. In addition, the public health response appears to have been successful in preventing H5N1 transmission from domesticated birds to humans.

Keywords: Avian influenza; H5N1; Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI); Infected poultry.