Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 continues to spread across wild bird populations worldwide, but genomic data from Africa remain limited. This makes it more difficult to understand how the virus is introduced and circulates across the continent.
In a new study, researchers, including our parter IZS, characterised an H5N1 virus detected in a common tern (Sterna hirundo) found dead on the Namibian coast during the country’s most recent avian influenza outbreak. Whole-genome sequencing identified the virus as belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b and clustered within the EA-2024-DI.2 subgenotype.
Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus was closely related to strains circulating in Europe during the 2024–2025 epidemic wave, pointing to a likely Eurasian origin. Six of its eight genome segments also clustered closely with a virus detected in a gull-billed tern in Uganda in December 2024. These findings add to the evidence of the role migratory seabirds can play in the long-distance spread of H5N1 and underline the importance of stronger genomic surveillance of wild birds and poultry in Africa.
You can read the full article here.
Hamunyela, E., Coetzee, L., Marcacci, M., Ancora, M., Celani, P., Secondini, B., Mincarelli, L., Monne, I., Dianati, M., & Molini, U. (2026). Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus outbreak among common terns (Sterna hirundo) in Namibia, 2025–2026. Veterinaria Italiana, 62(2)
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