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| Credit DVFA |
#13,935
Two weeks ago Denmark reported an outbreak of LPAI H5 in a commercial poultry holding with organic laying hens (see OIE Notification) affecting roughly 7,000 birds.
Today, the DFVA is reporting another outbreak - this time LPAI H7 - in duck herd in Funen.While LPAI viruses generally pose little threat to human health - H5 and H7 viruses - once they enter a large flock of poultry, have a history of occasionally mutating into highly pathogenic strains.
Hence the need to report all outbreaks, and a complete culling of exposed birds.
DVFA find mild bird flu in a duck herd
Food Administration has found bird flu in a herd of mallards at Brenderup on Funen. The crew of about 3,300 ducks must now be killed.
Press release , Modified March 15, 2019
There is evidence that low pathogenic avian influenza in a herd of about 3,300 mallard ducks near Brenderup Fyn. It confirms sampling results Food Administration has received from Statens Serum Institut Thursday night. The entire crew will be euthanized Friday.
In the case of low pathogenic avian influenza type H7. Low pathogenic means that it is mild compared to highly pathogenic types. Ducks rarely exhibit signs of disease at low pathogenic avian influenza, but they can infect other poultry, and the disease may change to a highly pathogenic type that has a mortality rate of up to 100 percent.
The killing of 3,300 ducks to prevent the disease is highly pathogenic and hits other herds.
'If the disease is highly pathogenic rubs it very easily from herd to herd. Therefore we brakes at an early stage before it reaches to do more damage, 'says veterinarian in the DVFA, Sten Mortensen.
Besides killing there will also set up a zone of special restrictions of one kilometer around the herd. It is important for both private and professional poultry owners in the area. The rules include that poultry and other birds and their eggs shall not be moved either in the zone or in and out of the zone.
Poultry eggs with low pathogenic avian influenza does not constitute a risk to human or animal.
With the spring migration now getting underway, and millions of birds following the global flyways north towards their summer roosting grounds, we are on alert again for outbreaks of avian flu along their path.
While southbound migrations have historically sparked more avian flu outbreaks than northbound, there is always a concern is over what comes back next fall after these northbound viruses spend the summer circulating in the world's high latitude nesting areas.
