Novel incursion of a highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N8 virus in the Netherlands, October 2020

The HPAI H5N8 virus detected in mute swans in the Netherlands in October 2020 shares a common ancestor with clade 2.3.4.4b viruses last detected in Egypt in 2018-2019 and has a similar genetic composition. The virus is not directly related to European H5N8 viruses detected in first half of 2020.