#12,722
Earlier this week the carcasses of 3 dead swans were sent to the testing laboratory at Germany's Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI). Although the OIE hasn't posted anything yet, German media is reporting overnight that the results have come back positive for H5N8.
Two (translated) reports, then I'll return with a bit more.
Bird flu H5N8 detected in dead swans
Friday, 08.25.2017, 16:12
The three dead swans near Seeburg in Mansfeld-Südharz the bird flu virus H5N8 has been detected. All three samples were in nationwide competent Friedrich Loeffler Institute tested positive for the highly infectious virus (FLI), the environment and agriculture ministry said in Magdeburg on Friday.(Continue . . . )
Around the area where the swans a restricted area with a radius of one kilometer and an observation area had been established with a radius of three kilometers. In Sperrbezirk Nine poultry farmers befänden with 120 animals, in the observation area 62 poultry farmers are established with 1,239 head of poultry. Animals would be held from once in stables and should no longer outside.
The swans were found on Tuesday. The European circulating avian influenza H5N8 was last registered to FLI information in a wild bird in Germany in May in North Rhine-Westphalia. The virus can persist in the soil and infect animals later according to the experts. But it is also possible that they are entered on wild birds new to Germany.
Dead swans in Seeburg detected bird flu virus at Sweet Lake
At Sweet lake in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz the bird flu virus H5N8 has been detected in three dead swans. In a restricted area of one kilometer around Seeburg and in the observation area poultry must now remain in the stables. 71 poultry farmers are affected by the arrangement. Owners of dogs and cats must ensure that their animals do not walk about freely.
In Saxony-Anhalt, the bird flu is back. On all three dead swans on the lake Sweet highly contagious viral H5N8 has been detected. This was announced by the Ministry of Environment with early Friday afternoon. Geflügekhalter must keep their animals in sheds. The barn obligation concerns nine poultry farmers with 120 animals, in the observation area 62 poultry farmers with 1,239 animals.
The district Mansfeld-Südharz had announced on Friday morning that a H5 virus was detected in the three dead swans. The dead animals were sent to determine the virus subtype in the Friedrich Loeffler Institute on the island Riems.
(Continue . . . )A spokeswoman for the institute said MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT because the timing was so early in the year very unusual must be examined whether the virus had come to Germany recently. It could also be that it is the same virus that causes the end of 2016 to May 2017 Germany had occurred. With a first result you could probably count on Monday, the spokeswoman said.
Since we've seen a modest number of reports of H5N8 lingering in Europe over the the summer (see here, here, and here) it is very possible that these swans were infected by the remnants from last winter's epizootic.
But with legitimate concerns this fall's southbound migration could bring a fresh wave of avian flu, authorities will be looking closely at these viruses to see if there are any genetic changes that would suggest they only recently arrived in Germany.Although it seems early, in many places migratory birds are already on the move, as explained by the following article from eBird.org.
Considering the changes in behavior that came with last year's virus (see EID Journal: Reassorted HPAI H5N8 Clade 2.3.4.4. - Germany 2016), there will be a good deal of interest should any new changes be found.(Excerpt)
Fall migration starts earlier than most people realize, with many shorebirds on the move by late June, and the first landbirds heading south soon thereafter. August through October are peak months, but migration continues into December for some species, especially shorter-distance landbirds (e.g., sparrows, blackbirds), raptors, waterfowl, and seabirds.
Stay tuned.
