Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection in farmed minks, Spain, October 2022

• Published in: Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles Vol. 28; no. 3; p. 1
• Main Authors: Agüero, Montserrat, Monne, Isabella, Sánchez, Azucena, Zecchin, Bianca, Fusaro, Alice, Ruano, María José, del Valle Arrojo, Manuel, Fernández-Antonio, Ricardo, Souto, Antonio Manuel, Tordable, Pedro, Cañás, Julio, Bonfante, Francesco, Giussani, Edoardo, Terregino, Calogero, Orejas, Jesús Javier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Centre Europeen pour la Surveillance Epidemiologique du SIDA (European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS) 19.01.2023; European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
• Subjects: Animals; Avian flu; Disease transmission; Epidemics; Farms; Health surveillance; Humans; Influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - genetics; Influenza in Birds - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Mink; Phylogeny; Rapid Communication; Small mammals; Spain - epidemiology; Spain; H5N1; HPAI; PB2; influenza A; mutations; mammal; mink; Spain
• ISSN: 1560-7917; 1025-496X; 1560-7917
• DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.3.2300001

In October 2022, an outbreak in Europe of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) in intensively farmed minks occurred in northwest Spain. A single mink farm hosting more than 50,000 minks was involved. The identified viruses belong to clade 2.3.4.4b, which is responsible of the ongoing epizootic in Europe. An uncommon mutation (T271A) in the PB2 gene with potential public health implications was found. Our investigations indicate onward mink transmission of the virus may have occurred in the affected farm.