#12,997
On Friday, in two separate releases (here and here) we learned that two dead birds had been recovered in Hong Kong - 20 miles apart - that tested initially positive for the H5 virus. Yesterday, in Oriental Robin Tests Positive For H5N6, we saw the test results for the first bird, but have heard nothing yet about the Spoonbill.
Today we've the OIE Notification on the Robin, which unfortunately does not yet answer the big question, which lineage of the H5N6 virus has landed in Hong Kong; the Asian H5N6 from the Mianland or the new European reassorted H5N6 from the H5N8 virus recently reported in Japan and South Korea.
comments An intensive surveillance system is in place for all poultry farms, poultry markets, and pet bird shops in Hong Kong. The H5N6 infected wild bird was detected in our ongoing surveillance program on wild birds. No spread of disease was evident. There are no poultry farms located within three kilometres of where the bird was found. The Hong Kong Wetland Park and Mai Po Nature Reserve are not located within three kilometres of where the bird was found.The date of end of the outbreak is the same as the date the bird was found (21 December 2017).
According to the report, gene sequencing is underway by the Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) - and so hopefully we'll have our answers soon.
