#13,405
Russia's summer resurgence of HPAI H5 doesn't appear to be slowing, with Russian media now reporting an outbreak in Rostov - which you'll recall was the site of a major outbreak and poultry inspection scandal in May of 2017 - along with numerous new outbreaks in Samara, and removal of contaminated poultry products in the Udmurt Republic.
While the official (Rosselkhoznadzor) websites have not yet posted updates, we have the following (translated) report from Tass.
Poultry farm in the Rostov found bird flu
Incidents
July 10, 17:28 update date: July 10, 19:16 UTC + 3
Genome of influenza A virus subtype H5 bird discovered on the territory of JSC "Poultry factory Belaya Kalitva"
ROSTOV-ON-DON, July 10. / TASS /. The hearth of the disease bird flu detected on the territory of JSC "Poultry factory Belaya Kalitva" in the Rostov region, the management of information policy of the regional government.
"Specialists of the Rostov regional veterinary laboratory and research center ARRIAH (Federal Center for Animal Health) have identified a gene of influenza A virus subtype H5 bird in pathological material samples from dead chickens taken at area housing №3 JSC" Poultry factory Belaya Kalitva. "It was decided to determine the epizootic a hotbed of the entire territory of poultry farms, the endangered area considered the territory within a radius of 5 km and a surveillance zone set within a radius of 10 km, "- said in a statement.
"The endangered zone and the surveillance zone veterinarians carried out a clinical examination of poultry in private farms, there is also planned forced poultry vaccination and monitoring studies of wild and synanthropic birds", - added in the management of information policy of the regional government.
(Continue . . . )
Meanwhile, media reports from Samara Oblast - which first reported an outbreak of HPAI H5 in the middle of June - now indicate a much more widespread event, with 14 additional farms in 8 villages reportedly infected.
In eight localities of the Samara region we have found bird fluAnd much like we saw during the summer of 2017 (see Rosselkhoznador: HPAI Contaminated Poultry Shipped To At Least 9 Regions Of Russia), we are seeing Russian media reports (but few official statements) on the removal of `flu contaminated' poultry products from the shelves in several regions.
16:2210.07.2018
SAMARA, July 10 - RIA Novosti. Foci of avian influenza A found in 14 private farms in eight villages of the Samara region, said on Tuesday the press office of Rosselkhoznadzor for the region.
"In the course of the epidemiological investigation of the registration of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the territory of the Samara region is established ... the presence of influenza virus type A RNA in the poultry pathological material in 14 personal subsidiary farms in eight settlements" - said in a statement.
According to the press service, the bird flu found in villages Penzin Great Chernigovka and in the village Irgiz More, Chernigov region, in the village of Kurumoch Volga region, in the village of Kochetov Krasnoarmeyskiy district, in the village Vasilevka within the city gratifying in Podgornoye Bor district and village noon Kinel-Cherkassy region.
(Continue . . . )
Overnight several media outlets are carrying nearly identical reports from the Udmurt Republic.
(translated)
17 tons of chicken meat contaminated with avian influenza found in shops in Izhevsk
The products were seized and destroyed.
Izhevsk. Udmurtia.
In the shops of Izhevsk found 17 tons of chicken meat infected with avian influenza. According to the press service of the city administration, the products were seized and destroyed.
Meat arrived on the shelves of the city's outlets from disadvantaged regions. Thus, at the beginning of July 28 outbreaks of highly pathogenic influenza among poultry in Kursk, Lipetsk, Orel, Samara were registered in Russia. Two foci of disease at poultry farms in the Penza region.
Sanitary and anti-epidemic commission commissioned the municipal police of the administration of Izhevsk, regional administrations together with law enforcement bodies to organize raids on places of unauthorized trade to stop illegal sale of poultry products
(Continue . . . )
The assumption right now is that Russia is dealing with a relatively low-risk (to humans, anyway) H5N8 virus, but none of the official reports I've seen specify the exact subtype.
Also, it is not entirely clear what is behind this sudden spike in avian flu activity. Wild birds may be carrying the virus from farm-to-farm, or perhaps lateral spread - via the movement of contaminated poultry products, equipment or personnel - may be the driver.
In all likelihood, it will turn out to be a combination of factors.Even after an exhaustive epidemiological investigation of the 2015 HPAI H5 epizootic in the United States - - researchers were unable to nail down a `specific pathway or pathways for the current spread of the virus’.
Regardless, we keep a close eye on these sorts of events because increased HPAI activity over the summer in Russia has previously led to outbreaks in Europe in the fall (see FAO/EMPRES: H5N8 Clade 2.3.4.4 Detected Over Summer In Russia).
Stay tuned.
