#10,788
Confirming this morning’s report (see France: Investigating Possible New AI Outbreak In Haute-Vienne), France’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced four new outbreaks of HPAI. The surprise comes, however, in a separate announcement (see below) that lists three HPAI H5 viruses; H5N1, H5N2 and now H5N9.
Avian Influenza: new outbreaks detected
09/12/2015
Communique
To date, seven highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry have been detected in the Dordogne, both in the Landes and Haute Vienne. The total number of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry has risen to 10, 4 more than the 6 previously reported as of Monday, December 7. On these four new cases, three were detected in the Dordogne and in the Haute-Vienne.
As a reminder, the outbreak began in Dordogne with the identification of a first outbreak of highly pathogenic for poultry November 24, 2015 in a barnyard.
For more information on the health situation: http://agriculture.gouv.fr/en-savoir-plus-sur-linfluenza-aviaire
The French authorities shall, furthermore, to remember that the virus is not transmitted through the consumption of poultry.
The Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the prefects of the departments concerned pursues the deployment of protective measures to prevent the risk of disease spread in the new outbreaks and new departments affected by avian influenza (protection zones and surveillance, biosecurity measures, animal homes slaughter).
In addition, professional sectors concerned were also met several times, notably to address the health strategy to limit the spread of the disease and the problems related to export.
The Government remains fully mobilized alongside the relevant professionals to help them cope with this disease.
Although several of these outbreaks are not characterized beyond being `HPAI’, two are listed as involving H5N9. The only instances of HPAI H5N9 I’m aware of was nearly 50 years ago in Ontario, Canada involving turkeys, and a recent reassortant in China (unlikely related).
What is the current situation in France?
In total, to date, 10 of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry have been detected in three 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, a farm of 1,000 ducks tested positive for highly pathogenic H5 in the surveillance framework in place for the release of animals from the restricted zone.
- A Mussidan, 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 two foci:
- 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.
- In Haute-Vienne, only one outbreak was confirmed in a poultry farm in Les Billangues. The identified strain is the highly pathogenic H5N1 in poultry.
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.
The plot, as they say, thickens. . . .
