# 5241
This time of year is when we expect to see an increase in bird flu cases in the Northern Hemisphere (and tropics), as the virus spreads better in cooler weather. And we’ve seen that in the past couple of months in places like Korea, Japan, and of course Egypt and Indonesia.
Some outbreaks may go unnoticed, particularly in areas where veterinary services, surveillance, and reporting are lacking.
While we don’t often get much in the way of news out of Myanmar, yesterday the Burmese Ministry of Fishery and Livestock announced an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 at a poultry farm in Sittwe in Arakan State (see map).
(OIE map)
This is the first reported H5N1 outbreak in that country since March of 2010 (see Myanmar Reporting New Bird Flu Activity).
Arkanoid Legent has picked up a local media report on this outbreak that provides some details.
Myanmar : Avian flu found on a poultry farm in Sittwe
An article from Mizzima News :
" Chiang Mai : The avian influenza has been detected on a poultry farm in Sittwe in Arakan State, according to the Burmese Ministry of Fishery and Livestock.The state newspapers confirmed that concerns first arose as some battery hens died on a poultry farm in Bumay Village in Sittwe Township. A Rangoon veterinary diagnostic lab diagnosed the deaths occurred because of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Towards the bottom of this report reference is made to:
“In 2009 and 2010, a total of 126 people were infected with avian influenza. There were no reported deaths.”
Whatever this statistical non sequitur is referring to, it would appear to be something other than the H5N1 avian flu. We’ve seen other instances where reporters have mixed up the H1N1 `swine’ flu with avian flu, and so that perhaps explains it.
For the record, the World Health Organization lists 121 Avian flu cases during that time frame, with 56 fatalities.
For more technical details on this outbreak, we have the OIE notification report, portions of which I’ve excerpted below:
(Link to OIE report)
Epidemiological comments
The layer chickens were 3 months old. There were a total of 800 chickens. Chicken deaths started from 6 January and a total of 500 chickens died. HPAI virus was detected by PCR. There are 8 farms in this village with a total of 5,000 chickens. All are layer chickens of different ages.
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection • Unknown or inconclusive
