Friday, December 03, 2010

Azerbaijan: Bird Flu Reported?

 

 

 

 

# 5110

 

( Location of Azerbaijan

 

 

If it seems as if we are seeing a lot of reports of bird flu (Canada, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia) around the world recently . . . well, during the relatively short history of H5N1 . . .  November through May has always been the busiest time of the year.

 

Azerbaijan saw a lot of bird flu activity in 2006, including 8 human infections and 5 fatalities, but since that time the H5 virus hasn’t been detected despite ongoing surveillance.   

 

The last surveillance report was released on November 13th of this year, with negative results.

 

On November 28th, Alert posted a ProMed Mail report Newcastle disease (suspected) - Azerbaijan (Samukh District)  on FluTrackers that gave details of a poultry die off from an unknown cause.

 

This morning newshound extraordinaire Dutchy has been posting a series of media reports that alternated between confirming and then not confirming (see Azerbaijan: No bird flu found among poultry) the detection of bird flu.


The latest report seems to be a confirmation of the H5 virus, although it isn’t entirely clear if this is H5N1. 

 

 

Azerbaijan recorded outbreak of avian influenza


BAKU, December 3.


Azerbaijan recorded outbreak of avian flu.

According to APA, the H5N1 virus detected in Samukh region of the country.

 

According to Deputy Minister of Health of Azerbaijan Elsever Agayev, the Ministry of Health has received information from the State Veterinary Service that in Samukh region recorded the death of poultry blood samples which were sent to the ministry.

 

The deputy minister noted that the H5 virus H5N1 has been confirmed in the present time in the lab work is underway to detect N1.

 

According to head of sector for Disease Control Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan, Viktor Gasimov humans cases of bird flu were not identified.

 

At the same time, preventive measures are taken: "We have enough stocks of medicines, drugs for disinfection, as well as trained staff. In the Research Institute of Pulmonology, there are specially marked boxes.

 

 

This story continues to evolve. You can follow additional news reports on this story on this FluTrackers thread.