France: H5N9 Reported In 3rd Department - Pyrénées-Atlantiques

#10,795

France's avian flu outbreak - and the unexpected emergence of a new subtype (HPAI H5N9) for Europe - continues today with a report from the French MOA indicating that this upstart new virus has now been detected in a flock of ducks in Arroses in Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

This marks the 13th outbreak spread across 5 departments in the past three weeks, due to three different (and new) strains of HPAI H5 - along with LPAI H5N2. 

A media report (as yet unconfirmed) indicates a 14th outbreak may have also been detected in Abere.   The latest update from the French MOA follows:

What is the current situation in France?
In total, to date, 13 of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry have been detected in five departments of the South West of France:

• In the Dordogne, seven of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry have been detected:

- November 24 a highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry (H5N1) in a backyard 32 hens at Biras;
- November 28, a virus outbreak influenza H5 highly pathogenic for poultry (H5N1 and H5N9) in a breeding of 14 000 ducks in Saint Paul La Roche;
- 30 November, a highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus outbreak (1000 geese) to Dommes;
- On December 4, in Cénac et Saint Julien, a flock of 1,000 ducks and 4,000 chickens was confirmed as a focus in the national surveillance program. The samples that were positive for H5 highly pathogenic for poultry were performed on ducks. The breeding was located in the area of ​​regulated Domme (surveillance zone).
- A Nantheuil, December 7, 1000 a breeding ducks tested positive for highly pathogenic H5 in the surveillance framework in place for the release of animals from the restricted zone.
- A Bosset, December 7, a flock of 630 ducks was detected as a result of clinical signs.
- A Montignac, a breeding envion 30 ducks, geese and chickens was confirmed H5N1 outbreak on December 8.

• In the Landes, there are 4 homes:

- On December 6, a farm located Josse 500 ducks feeding was dédecté (H5);
- On 6 December in Doazit, following an abnormal mortality guinea (700 guinea fowl died in 4000), a farm was also confirmed as household (H5N9). Farming also has 8800 hens, capons 4550 and 7200 keets.
- December 9, in Horsarieux, the H5N9 strain has been detected in a breeding 4000 guinea fowl, chickens 12 600, 3 500 960 capons chickens and ducks.

• In Haute-Vienne, December 9, a single outbreak was confirmed in a poultry farm in Les Billangues. The identified strain is the highly pathogenic H5N1 in poultry.

• In Gers, a H5N2 outbreak was detected in a 10 December 8300 breeding ducks in Manciet.
• In the Pyrenees Atlantiques, in Arroses an H5N9 outbreak was confirmed on December 11th 1500 in a breeding ducks.
  

It is important to note that according to Anses, the identified strains are of European origin strains. There is no Asian strains, and that is not the Asian strain detected in the last few years.

As to the mystery of how three new strains of avian flu managed to emerge simultaneously in France - we'll have to await more detailed genetic analysis.  Hopefully we'll get another update from the UK's  DEFRA, which has been following these events closely.