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Although we still haven't seen confirmation of the virus subtype from last week's report (Bulgarian NVS: Confirmed Avian Flu In 2 Illegally Transported Birds), today the Bulgarian National Veterinary Service is reporting on a large outbreak of HPAI H5N8 at a commercial poultry farm in the Northeastern part of the country, very near the Romanian border.
NVS opened the outbreak of bird flu at a poultry farm in General Toshevo
05.03.2018
In the implementation of surveillance programs for avian influenza is detected highly pathogenic type H5N8 in poultry for laying hens in General Toshevo, Dobrich.
Immediately taken all measures to eradicate the outbreak in accordance with European legislation. Action started in destroying birds in the affected holding as stages will be killed and disposed of 140,000 hens.
Lot is three kilometers protection zone and 10 km surveillance zone around the farm, they have imposed a ban on trade and movement of poultry, wild and other birds and eggs for breeding, organization of fairs, markets, shows and other gatherings of poultry or other birds. Enhanced Clinical examinations of birds kept in the villages on the territory of Dobrich.Although H5N8 continues to circulate in Iran, Iraq and parts of Africa, it has been largely absent this winter in Europe (see UK: DEFRA Avian Flu In Europe Update -Feb 14th).
Instead, we've mostly seen the slow spread of a new H5N6 virus - a reassortment of H5N8 and a European HxN6 virus - primarily in wild birds.Today's outbreak is a reminder that H5N8 continues to circulate in the wild, and that while we've appreciated the break in its activity this winter, it remains a viable threat ot poultry, wild birds, and potentially to humans (see Virology: The Zoonotic Potential Of Multiple Subgroups of Clade 2.3.4.4. H5N8 Virus).
