Wild bird testing yields no new avian flu cases to date

The USDA’s surveillance of wild birds for possible highly pathogenic avian influenza infections has so far turned up no positive tests for the virus. And while this is encouraging, said Dr. T.J. Myers of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), cautioned not to read too much into that news.
During an interview with USDA Radio News, Myers said that since July, about 6,000 birds had been sampled. The agency has been testing wild birds in 43 states to get an early indication of what may be ahead as the weather gets cooler and wild birds make their southward migration through the United States.
“Absence of positive results doesn’t mean that the virus isn’t out there,” said Myers. “This group of viruses has quite an ability to mutate and to reassort with other influenza viruses, so it’s really difficult to predict what it may or may not do.”
Since December 19, 2014, APHIS has reported 223 detections of avian influenza, affecting more than 48 million birds. The agency’s last confirmed avian influenza case was reported on June 17. During that span of time, the virus was found in 21 states: Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, California, Indiana, Nevada, Kentucky, Michigan and New Mexico.

H5N2 avian influenza confirmed at Belize broiler breeder farm

Low pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has struck a broiler breeder farm in Spanish Lookout, Belize, the first occurrence of the disease in the country, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Of a susceptible 17,400 birds, there were 11,572 cases, but no deaths. Poultry in the flocks, with ages of 22 weeks, 38 weeks and 39 weeks, were not showing any clinical signs of avian influenza. However, under the Belize Poultry Improvement Plan’s avian influenza program, all breeder flocks in the area are routinely sampled for avian influenza. Testing was conducted at the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Belize, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Service Laboratory.
Control measures that have been applied include control of wildlife reservoirs, quarantine, movement control inside the country and screening. Zoning, modified stamping out procedures are to be conducted, and the infected premises will be disinfected.
Spanish Lookout is one of Belize’s larger poultry production areas, as there are 14 breeder flocks with 63,800 birds and an unknown number of layer flocks and broilers, according to the OIE.
OIE stated that the organization will submit weekly follow-up reports until the low pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Belize is resolved.

H5N8, H5N2 avian influenza confirmed in Idaho

Avian influenza has continued to spread in the Northwestern United States, as Idaho has become the latest state to confirm the presence of the virus.
According to a news release from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), routine surveillance of wild waterfowl in common migratory regions of the state resulted in the discovery of both H5N8 and H5N2 avian influenza.
H5N8 was discovered in wild ducks in Gooding County, Idaho, and the H5N2 strain was confirmed in three falcons from a private, non-commercial flock in Canyon County, Idaho.
According to ISDA, the falcons contracted the virus through contact with wild waterfowl, and the flock is currently under quarantine and the affected birds have been depopulated.
"Both the H5N8 and H5N2 strains of HPAI confirmed in Idaho have previously been identified in incidents in backyard domestic poultry and wild fowl in other northwestern states. It is critical that backyard flock owners and poultry producers take every opportunity to prevent contact between domestic birds and the wild waterfowl that carry the avian influenza virus" said Dr. Bill Barton, ISDA State Veterinarian.
The ISDA is working closely with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and the USDA to further disease surveillance statewide for avian influenza.
Other states to confirm cases of avian influenza in the past five weeks include Washington, Oregon, Utah and California.
Avian influenza has not been found in commercial poultry anywhere in the United States. 

Taiwan confirms case of H5N2 bird flu

Taiwan has confirmed a case of H5N2 bird flu in Yunlin County, where over 3,500 birds have died at a farm in Peikang since May 7.
All 18,000 birds at the farm will be culled by the end of the day on May 11. According to the Yunlin County government, no chickens reached the market since the outbreak began and there is no danger to consumers. The military has been called in to clean up the surrounding areas, and more than a dozen farms in the neighborhood have been put under close watch. There are roughly 900 farms with a total of 13 million chickens in the area.
The Yunlin outbreak is the sixth case of H5N2 in Taiwan, according to the Taiwan Council of Agriculture. It is thought that the latest virus was brought into the farm by humans or vehicles. From now on, each Wednesday will be a national disinfection day for farms, vehicles and farmers, said a Council of Agriculture official, in an effort to reduce the possibility of future incidences.