India: H5N8 Detected At 3rd Location

#11,837


According to media reports, avian H5N8 has been detected at a second park in New Delhi, bringing to total number of outbreaks to 3 over the past several days.  The following excerpt comes from the Deccan Herald. 

Bird flu: Threat of infection to migratory birds

New Delhi, Oct 23, 2016, (PTI)

       (Excerpt)

The Centre had yesterday formed a three-member committee to keep a constant vigil around the park, as well as monitor and contain the H5 Avian Influenza.

A total of 40 birds have died of the Influenza in the national capital since October 14. While 12 deaths were reported at the Delhi zoo, 28 ducks died at the Hauz Haas Deer Park. A death was also reported from the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries at the Centre had on Friday said a new bird flu virus subtype, H5N8, has been confirmed in samples from Gandhi Zoological Park, Gwalior.

The government has also issued an advisory to all wildlife/bird sanctuaries in this regard.

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Another report - this time from the Business Standard - suggests the bird die continues today at the Hauz Hass Deer Park, which is about 5 miles south and west of the first outbreak reported on Friday at the New Delhi Zoological Park.

H5N8 flue: 10 birds die in Deer Park, anti-virus drive ordered

Because of bird flu deaths, the Delhi Zoo has also been ordered shut until further notice.

IANS  |  New Delhi  October 23, 2016 Last Updated at 18:17 IST 

Ten more birds died on Sunday due to bird flu in the now shut Deer Park here, prompting Delhi Animal Husbandry Minister Gopal Rai to order an anti-virus drive.

After a visit to the park in Hauz Khas, Rai set up a 10-member team to spray anti-virus Mycrodacyn in the area. He ordered a sample of water from the sprawling park to be sent to the central lab in Bhopal.

The same lab had earlier confirmed that the virus strain found in the initial sample of birds was H5N8 avian influenza.

Rai expressed concern over the rising fatalities among migratory birds. Seventeen birds had died on Saturday in the park, which is home to a large number of deer. Six birds had died on Friday.

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So far, we've not seen any reports from poultry farms, but the alert has been raised to look for any signs of infection.

Although some migratory birds have already arrived in the region from their northern nesting areas, the bulk of the migration will occur in November and December.

As you'll recall, it was in November of 2014 when H5N8 turned up in Japan, Western Europe, and the Pacific Northwest.  After causing numerous outbreaks through the spring of 2015, the virus failed to return last fall.


While it is impossible to predict where or when H5N8 will turn up next, the detection of the virus in Russia and of H5N2 in Alaska over the summer - and these recent outbreaks reported from India - certainly suggests that HPAI H5 is alive and well, and on the move again this fall in migratory birds.