On 8 January 2018 Dr. Karin Schwabenbauer, the Ministerial Dirigentin and the Chief Veterinary Officer, Directorate of Animal Health, Animal Welfare, Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL), Bonn, Germany, notified to the OIE one outbreak of Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) viruses (infection with) (non-poultry including wild birds) in Bayern, Dachau.

The date of start and confirmation of the event was on 4 January 2018.

The National laboratory, the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute, confirmed the positivity of one anatidae (the species was not identified) by RT-PCR. The animal died and the carcass was disposed of under official control. The only measure of control applied was the control of wildlife reservoirs.

“In order to ensure transparency in the global animal disease situation, to safeguard international trade on animals and animal products and to be consistent with Chapters 1.3 and 10.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, as of 1^st January 2017, a new name for infection with avian influenza viruses in non-poultry was added to the existing list of diseases in WAHIS: “Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (infection with) (non-poultry including wild birds)”.

Further information can be found at the OIE web site.