New genomic analyses trace the origins and spread of the EA-2023-DG H5N1 reassortant, highlighting evolving zoonotic risks and urgent surveillance needs. A new scientific study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases has mapped the emergence and spread of a novel highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus genotype—EA-2023-DG—across Europe. Conducted by an international team of researchers led by the Avian Virology and Immunology Unit at Sciensano (Belgium) in collaboration with laboratories across 13 countries, the study reconstructs the reassortment origins of this virus and provides a detailed phylogeographic account of its transmission between 2023 and mid-2024.
Their findings not only underscore the dynamic nature of avian influenza virus evolution but also reinforce the critical importance of genomic surveillance in anticipating and mitigating zoonotic and agricultural threats.