# Commission Decision of 4 August 2006 approving a Diagnostic Manual for avian influenza as provided for in Council Directive 2005/94/EC (notified under document number C(2006) 3477) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/437/EC), Chapter X: Strategies in the diagnosis of AI

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

As set out in Annex IV to Directive 2005/94/EC, decisions to apply measures in specific areas or contact holdings and the severity of those measures may vary greatly with the magnitude of the risk. Similarly, the required diagnostic confirmation of disease is likely to be balanced against the prevailing situation, the magnitude of the hazard and the degree of risk. Veterinary authorities need to make decisions on diagnostic evidence that balance the rapid control and eradication of disease against the potential impact of misdiagnosis. Such judgements have to be made against the background of many factors at the time, but certain situations can be predicted.
For these full sampling should be carried out and samples stored for later evaluation.
Disease situation
Potential problem
Diagnostic criteria
Non specific signs, no official suspicion
Isolated holding
Carry out rapid detection based on M gene RT-PCR. Differential diagnosis as required
Primary suspected outbreak
Isolated holding
Carry out full diagnostic testing, virus isolation and characterisation
Primary suspected outbreak
Holding in densely populated poultry area
Carry out full diagnostic testing, virus isolation and characterisation, but concentrate on rapid detection and characterisation methods especially those based on RT-PCR and sequencing.
Second and subsequent suspected outbreaks
Isolated holdings, epidemiologically linked to primary suspected outbreak
Concentrate on rapid detection and characterisation methods especially those based on RT-PCR and sequencing.
Second and subsequent suspected outbreaks
Holdings in densely populated poultry area or with many epidemiological links
Rely on rapid detection methods that give the earliest evidence of the presence of any AI virus.
Multiple suspected outbreaks or disease spreading rapidly including surveillance
Spread will become uncontrollable without rapid intervention
Rely on rapid detection methods that give the earliest evidence of the presence of any AI virus or rely on clinical signs.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2006/437/annex/chapter/X (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2006-437/annex/chapter-X
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.