H5N1

During the winter of 2020-2021, a new genotype of highly-pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza A virus emerged in Europe, comprising a reassortant between the epizootic HP clade 2.3.4.4b H5N8 and local low pathogenicity wildfowl strains. This new genotype caused record levels of infections in farmed poultry throughout Europe and quickly traveled, via waterfowl flyways, into North America, Africa and East…