South Korea Testing Pathogenicity Of H5N2 Detected In Wild Bird Feces

Paju - Credit Wikipedia

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October is the time of year when we expect to see migratory birds in the Northern Hemisphere arriving to more temperate zones after leaving their high latitude summer roosting places.

Typically, in Asia, we hear from South Korea and Japan first.

On Oct. 2nd South Korea's MAFRA Warned: South Korea's Fall Migratory Bird Season Begins, and a few days later announced that Changyeong Found H5 Virus In Wild Bird Feces, a sample that eventually proved to be a low pathogenic strain.

Low path avian influenza (LPAI) viruses are common in wild and migratory birds, and are generally considered to be low risk (there are exceptions).  Highly pathogenic (HPAI) viruses - particularly H5 & H7 subtypes - are of much greater concern.

Today, South Korea announces the detection of avian H5N2 in wild birds in the North of the country, and pathogenicity testing is underway.  Results should be available in a day or two.

LPAI H5N2 has been detected in migratory birds in South Korea before, and it will surprise no one if this sample proves to be low path as well.

But over the past year, Russia has reported a few outbreaks of a new, reassortant, HPAI H5N2 virus (see Brief ESA Report On HPAI H5N2 & H5Nx In Russia), raising the stakes for this year's fall migration. 

First the (translated) announcement from South Korea's MAFRA, and then I'll return with a postscript.

Bird Flu Infection Disaster Prevention Division Director (044-201-2551), Hwang Seong-cheol (2555) Date of Delivery: October 17th (1 copy)

In the wild bird feces of Paju (Han river estuary) in Gyeonggi-do Detection of H5N2 type avian influenza (AI) antigen

- Blocking according to the AI ​​Emergency Action Instructions (SOP)

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Livestock Food and Drug Administration (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) said, "According to the 'Plan for AI Surveillance Inspection in 18 years', the results of the inspection of the agricultural, forestry and livestock quarantine headquarters on the feces of wild algae collected in Paju (Han river estuary) And the antigen was detected.

  ❍ According to the AI ​​Emergency Action Guideline (SOP)

① Set up a 10-km radius as "wild bird's water prospecting area," 
② forecast, inspect, control and disinfect poultry and birds in the area, 
③ strengthen preventive measures against nearby farms such as migratory birds and small rivers,
④ The local governments have taken preventive measures such as disinfection every day by mobilizing the anti-pollution vehicles such as the wide-area fire extinguisher.

    ※ It takes 1 ~ 2 days for the final judgment, such as whether the disease is highly pathogenic.

 
With this fall's bird migration already well underway across the Northern Hemisphere we'll be watching Asia, Europe, and North America closely for any signs of the return of HPAI clade 2.3.4.4. H5Nx or the arrival of any new H5 or H7 reassortant viruses.

In truth - like with seasonal flu - we never know what kind of avian flu season we're going to see until its over.  In 2014/15, the United States saw its worst avian epizootic in history, but since then it has been pretty quiet. 

Over the winter of 2016/17, it was Europe's turn, with more than 2000 farms hit by HPAI H5Nx.  

The last 18 months have been remarkably quiet on the migratory bird front, and while poultry producers are hoping for a repeat this winter, recently the OIE urged better biosecurity in backyard flocks to counter bird flu threat.

Stay tuned.