H5N1 avian influenza cases reported in Cambodia

According to a Cambodian agriculture ministry report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed in the northwest of the country.
Both cases were in free-range duck flocks described as “backyard” in the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap. Of the 8,800 birds in the flocks, 2,280 died.
According to the official report, after having been informed by the owners that their duck flocks were sick and dying, the district and provincial veterinary services investigated and took samples from sick ducks, which were sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute for testing. The test samples were confirmed positive with the H5N1 variant.
The usual control measures are being applied, namely movement controls within the country, disinfection and dipping/spraying. Vaccination is prohibited and there is no treatment of infected birds. A policy of stamping-out will be followed.

Asia’s ongoing difficulties with HPAI H5N1

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was detected in China in the 1990s, but strongly re-emerged in 2003. It continues to spread.
See the infographic: Asia’s ongoing difficulties with HPAI H5N1
While the virus strain was first identified in Scotland in 1959, the “Asian lineage” HPAI H5N1 strain now present in Asia is very different to what was first identified more than 55 years ago, and its ability to mutate makes its true threat difficult to measure.
The U.S. may have experienced difficulties with avian influenza over recent months and has been the focus of attention. For much of Asia, the virus has been a constant concern for a decade, resulting in the death and destruction of millions of farmed birds and a significant number of human deaths.

H5N1 avian influenza hits Jerusalem backyard layer flock

An outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in a backyard flock of laying hens in Jerusalem.
The infection was confirmed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on March 24, after tests were conducted at the Central Veterinary Laboratory and the Kimron Veterinary Institute. Those tests proved positive for the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza.
OIE reported that 15 chickens died after contracting the virus, while an additional 25 birds were destroyed. The layers were estimated to be about 150 days old.
The birds in the flock are believed to have contracted the virus through humans, vehicles or feed, OIE stated.
The infected property has been disinfected. Other control measures taken include quarantine, zoning, movement control inside the country, control of wildlife reservoirs, dipping and spraying.
OIE will submit follow-up reports on the avian influenza status in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Autonomous Territories until it considers it resolved. Prior to the Jerusalem avian influenza outbreak, the Palestinian Autonomous Territories had its last highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in February, when a layer flock of 5,000 birds was infected. Of those 5,000 birds, 4,500 died as a result of contracting the virus, while the remaining 500 were destroyed.

H5N1 avian influenza reappears in Israel

H5N1 avian influenza has been detected at a turkey farm in Israel, marking the first time the virus has been found in the country in nearly three years.
According to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the virus was found at a turkey fattening farm that contained 13 pens with a total of 55,000 male turkeys and 25,000 female turkeys, with deaths being observed at five of those pens. An estimated 15,000 deaths occurred as a result of avian influenza, and 10,000 other turkeys were destroyed.
Another poultry farm, located 350 meters away, was home to another 61,000 turkeys. While those birds have been identified as susceptible, no clinical signs of avian influenza have been seen at this farm. No other commercial poultry flocks are within a three-kilometer radius of the affected farm.
As of January 18, control measures taken included quarantine, movement control inside the country, and zoning. Further control measures expected to be taken include stamping out, screening and disinfection of the infected premises.
Three tests for the virus were conducted at the Kimron Veterinary Institute, with one proving positive and the results pending for the other two tests.
OIE stated that it will submit weekly follow-up reports on the situation.

H5N1 avian influenza outbreak occurs in India

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been reported in Chandigarh, India. The outbreak occurred in a flock of ducks.
A total of 100 ducks were susceptible to the virus, with 22 deaths, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Tests were conducted by scientists at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases on December 16, with all three tests proving positive.
Control measures applied include stamping out, quarantine, movement control inside the country, screening, dipping and spraying, and disinfection of the infected premises.
The latest outbreak in India follows an earlier outbreak of H5 avian influenza that occurred at two locations in Kerala, India. In that outbreak, 15,000 ducks out of a susceptible 228,807 birds died. At the other location, 500 of a susceptible 13,000 ducks died, according to the OIE.
Concerns about avian influenza have been widespread in the global poultry industry in recent months. Outbreaks of avian influenza have also been in The Netherlands, Germany, U.K., Japan, Italy, Canada and the United States. Several other countries have subsequently implemented trade bans involving countries affected by avian influenza.
OIE will submit follow-up reports on the most recent case of avian influenza in India until the matter is resolved.

Nepal declared free of H5N1 avian influenza, OIE reports

Nepal has declared itself free of H5N1 avian influenza after resolving a case in which a commercial layer farm had been stricken by the high pathogenic form of avian influenza in late February. The declaration was made after all samples taken throughout the country following the outbreak tested negative for the virus.
According to reports from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), 570 birds kept in a deep litter system at the layer farm had died in February from the virus, with an additional 1,430 susceptible chickens destroyed. The affected birds had shown signs of depression, decreased egg production and/or paralysis prior to death.
Once stamping out, quarantine, movement control and disinfection procedures were completed, animal health officials intensified surveillance activities throughout the country, with no samples testing positive for H5N1 avian influenza.

H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Vietnam resolved, OIE reports

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza that struck poultry in October 2013 in the Hoa Binh province of Vietnam has been resolved, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported on January 8. Control measures used included stamping out, movement control inside the country, vaccinations and disinfection of the infected premises.
There were 700 ducks and 475 chickens susceptible to H5N1 avian influenza in Vietnam, according to the OIE. Of the susceptible birds, 370 died and the other 805 were destroyed.
The infection source leading to the H5N1 outbreak in Vietnam was unknown.

H5N1 avian influenza outbreak strikes chickens, ducks in Vietnam

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has struck poultry in the Hoa Binh province of Vietnam. There were 700 ducks and 475 chickens susceptible, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported the outbreak to the OIE on October 14. Of the susceptible birds, 370 died and the other 805 were destroyed.
Control measures used include stamping out, movement control inside the country, vaccinations and disinfection of the infected premises.  

H5N1 avian influenza confirmed at two Nepal poultry farms

H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed at two poultry farms in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal. Chickens from one Lakhula poultry farm and another farm in Nangkhel have tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
Plans have been made to cull about 5,000 chickens from the Lakhula poultry farm and another 8,000 chickens from the Nangkhel poultry farm.
The tests were conducted by the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Kathmandu, according to eKantipur.com. In addition, chickens from three other farms will be tested for avian influenza. 

Nepal faces outbreak of H5N1 virus

Nepal is facing an outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Kathmandu, according to reports, with two separate farms affected so far.
The first farm saw 2,500 chickens dead and 19,000 destroyed. The latest farm, confirmed to be contaminated on December 27, has had 2,240 chickens culled, 700 kilograms of chicken feed destroyed and 105 eggs destroyed, according to the Directorate of Animal Health. "Rapid response teams were mobilized immediately after confirmation of the virus," said Narayan Prasad Ghimire, senior veterinarian at the directorate.
The first phase of disinfection has been completed, said Ghimire, and sample collection is ongoing. The two farms are the latest in an extended outbreak; 3,000 chickens were culled in mid-December at a farm in Dharke, Dhading, and the virus was also detected at a poultry farm at Bode, Bhaktapur in October.

US funds international partnership against H5N1 in high-risk regions

The United States Agency for International Development has provided more than $20 million to support the ongoing U.S.-Food and Agriculture Organization partnership against H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza and a widening focus on potential emerging pandemic threats.
The partnership focuses largely on "hotspot" areas, such as Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Funding will also go to regional coordination to support surveillance and avian influenza prevention in Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and Myanmar, which are threatened by the disease's continuing persistence in neighboring countries. "The U.S. government has been key in generating international support to combat avian influenza and to reduce the chances for a human pandemic by assisting the FAO and others to address the threat in animals before it spills over into humans," said Food and Agriculture Organization Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth. "Such support for basic prevention measures is rare, yet most sensible and cost effective."
The partnership has resulted in a better understanding of what drives disease emergence and what measure to take to prevent disease, according to involved researchers. The U.S Agency for International Development launched an Emerging Pandemic Threats program, which helps funnel support to countries to diagnose and characterize different types of influenza virus threats. The Food and Agriculture Organization has established a Crisis Management Center for Animal Health, an emergency response unit that can mobilize and deploy teams of veterinary and other experts anywhere in the world to advise governments on emergency control measures.

Guangdong China detects H5N1 virus in ducks

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has infected 14,050 ducks in the city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong province, according to reports, leading to 6,300 deaths since September 11 directly due to the disease.
Local authorities have since culled 67,500 birds in the area as a precaution against spreading the disease, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. So far, no vaccinations or other treatments are planned, but the area has been quarantines and is being monitored.

Hong Kong to introduce new, more effective H5N1 poultry vaccine

*Hong Kong plans to introduce a new, more effective H5N1 poultry vaccine, Re-6, to its chicken farms before the end of 2012, according to Ko Wing-man, the city's secretary for food and health.
The vaccine has already been introduced on the mainland and has been successfully registered in Hong Kong.

The government has also adopted other measures to combat avian influenza, including vaccination at local farms, import control and stringent hygiene requirements at wholesale and retail markets, according to Ko. Hong Kong will increase surveillance ahead of the coming winter season, and surprise inspections will be conducted at poultry farms and pet bird shops.

Further outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 in China

A further outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has occurred in China's northwest Gansu province, according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture.
More than 6,200 chickens at a farm in a village in Luyang, a town in Jingtai county, showed symptoms of suspected avian flu on June 1, and 260 of them died. Some 18,460 birds have since been culled to prevent the spread of the disease, and quarantine and movement control measures have been introduced.
The outbreak is the fifth reported by the country’s Veterinary Bureau to the World Organisation for Animal Health since December 2011. 

Hong Kong reports first H5N1 case in 18 months

Hong Kong has reported its first case of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in 18 months, putting the country on heightened alert.
Health authorities said that a two-year-old mainland child tested positive for the virus and is in serious condition in a Hong Kong hospital. Tests have been ordered for about 80 people who came into contact with the boy, who lives in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. He is said to have visited a live poultry market in the last month.

Hong Kong resumes poultry imports from China province after avian influenza outbreak

Hong Kong has resumed imports of poultry products, including poultry eggs and frozen poultry, from northeastern Liaoning province in China after a 21-day suspension in wake of a confirmed H5N1 outbreak, according to the Center for Food Safety of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
No notifications of further poultry or human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in that area have been received since April 26. Appropriate monitoring and control measures were taken by mainland authorities, said a spokesperson for the Center for Food Safety, and the center will continue to monitor the situation and take any necessary measures to safeguard public health.

Hong Kong blocks northeastern China poultry after bird flu confirmation

Hong Kong has suspended imports of poultry products, including eggs and frozen meat, from China's northeastern Liaoning province for 21 days after authorities confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, according to reports.
The outbreak was among chickens, but no further information is available. Hong Kong imported 28,000 metric tons of frozen poultry and 103 million poultry eggs from Liaoning in 2011. So far, there have been 24 human cases of H5N1 confirmed globally in 2012, compared with 62 in all of 2011.

Egypt reports fifth bird flu death in 2012

A Giza governorate has become the fifth bird flu death in Egypt in 2012, according to the World Health Organization.
The 26-year-old woman developed symptoms of H5N1 on April 1 and was admitted to the hospital on April 7, dying on the same day, according to reports. She had exposure to backyard poultry.
Egypt is second in the world in bird flu cases, after Indonesia, and third in the world in H5N1 deaths, well behind Indonesia and just one case behind Vietnam. So far in 2012, Egypt has had the most bird flu cases, with nine.

Cambodia reports second bird flu death in 2012

A six-year-old Cambodian girl has died from H5N1 avian influenza, the country's second death from the virus in 2012, according to the World Health Organization.
The child, who was from central Kampong Chhnang province, fell ill on March 22 and died on March 30, said the World Health Organization and the Cambodian health ministry in a joint statement. Reports say she had contact with sick or dead poultry prior to becoming sick.
The girl is the 20th person in Cambodia to become infected with bird flu since 2003, and the 18th to die from it. A two-year-old boy was the first victim in 2012, dying in January of the virus.

Nepal launches month-long caution program against bird flu

The district of Lalitpur, Nepal, has launched a month-long caution program against avian influenza after the virus was confirmed in a poultry farm at Sainbu, according to the District Public Health Office.
The office has begun conducting a public awareness campaign for those living in a three-kilometer radius of the infected area, making door-to-door visits to inform residents about H5N1 protection and prevention. Residents are also being told how to properly dispose of infected birds.
So far, 8,574 chicks have been culled and 1,600 eggs have been destroyed at two Sainbu poultry farms.