Highlights
Threats to the food chain and security:
Animal and aquatic diseases:
With the upcoming winter, the forecast for Avian Influenza is as follows:
− In West Africa, the risk of further spread of Avian Influenza (H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) to Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger and Nigeria in poultry is persisting. To date no reported cases of human samples tested.
− In Southeast Asia and China, a high risk of occurrence of Avian Influenza (H5N1, H7N9, H5N2, H5N3, H5N6, and H5N8) outbreaks is expected with potential spread within endemic countries and to free areas.
The risk of re-occurrence and spread of a vector borne disease - Rift Valley fever (RVF) - is amplified in Eastern Africa with El Niño conditions. Strong persistent El Niño conditions are associated with periods of widespread and prolonged heavy rainfall creating ideal environmental and ecological conditions for the emergence of RVF vectors.
The occurrence of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Greece and the Russian Federation highlights the potential for further spread to other countries in Central Asia and Europe.
No confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported in the week to 4 October. This is the first time that a complete epidemiological week has elapsed with zero confirmed cases since March 2014. Liberia was declared Ebola-free by World Health Organization (WHO) on 3 September 2015.
A risk of spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome -coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is associated to the recent Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and the re-emergence of the disease in Jordan after a couple of years without cases.