OmniVira

Iceland: an underestimated hub for the spread of high-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in the North Atlantic.

Ann Kathrin Ahrens1 Stefán Ragnar Jónsson2 Vilhjálmur Svansson2 Brigitte Brugger3 Martin Beer1 Timm C Harder1 Anne Pohlmann1
Affiliations 3 institutions
  1. Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald -Isle of Riems, Germany.
  2. The Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
  3. The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST), Austurvegi 64, Selfossi, Iceland.
PMID38695722 DOI10.1099/jgv.0.001985 Year2024 Journal The Journal of general virology J Gen Virol Languageeng Publication statusActive
Active Last checked 2026-10-02 03:30:39 Source: NCBI PubMed

Abstract

High-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of the goose/Guangdong lineage are enzootically circulating in wild bird populations worldwide. This increases the risk of entry into poultry production and spill-over to mammalian species, including humans. Better understanding of the ecological and epizootiological networks of these viruses is essential to optimize mitigation measures. Based on full genome sequences of 26 HPAIV samples from Iceland, which were collected between spring and autumn 2022, as well as 1 sample from the 2023 summer period, we show that 3 different genotypes of HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b were circulating within the wild bird population in Iceland in 2022. Furthermore, in 2023 we observed a novel introduction of HPAIV H5N5 of the same clade to Iceland. The data support the role of Iceland as an utmost northwestern distribution area in Europe that might act also as a potential bridging point for intercontinental spread of HPAIV across the North Atlantic.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
avian influenza 58 Iceland 1 wild birds 19 Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype 308 Influenza in Birds 352 Phylogeny 826 Animals 1981 Animals, Wild 193 Birds 215 Genome, Viral 324 Genotype 142 Iceland 1 Influenza A virus 191

Evidence records

3 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
3 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
2 records
OVE8021 Viral Detection
Key finding

Full-genome sequencing detected three distinct genotypes of HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b circulating in wild birds in Iceland during 2022.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
birds Aves Natural host
Location
Iceland
Supporting text

Based on full genome sequences of 26 HPAIV samples from Iceland, which were collected between spring and autumn 2022, we show that 3 different genotypes of HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b were circulating within the wild bird population in Iceland in 2022.

Method
full genome sequencing
Sample type
HPAIV samples | genomic material
Geographic raw
Iceland
Country inferred
ISL
OVE8022 Viral Detection
Key finding

Genomic surveillance detected a novel introduction of HPAIV H5N5 clade 2.3.4.4b in wild birds in Iceland in 2023.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N5
Host
birds Aves Natural host
Location
Iceland
Supporting text

Furthermore, in 2023 we observed a novel introduction of HPAIV H5N5 of the same clade to Iceland.

Method
genomic surveillance | full genome sequencing
Sample type
wild bird samples
Geographic raw
Iceland
Country inferred
ISL
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE8023 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

HPAIVs were circulating within the wild bird population in Iceland, which may act as a northwestern distribution area and potential ecological bridge for intercontinental spread across the North Atlantic.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1 Influenza A virus H5N5
Host
birds Aves Natural host
Location
Iceland Europe North Atlantic
Supporting text

We show that 3 different genotypes of HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b were circulating within the wild bird population in Iceland in 2022. Furthermore, in 2023 we observed a novel introduction of HPAIV H5N5 of the same clade to Iceland. The data support the role of Iceland as an utmost northwestern distribution area in Europe that might act also as a potential bridging point for intercontinental spread of HPAIV across the North Atlantic.

Method
genomic analysis
Geographic raw
Iceland | Europe | North Atlantic
Country inferred
ISL