#14,109
Not quite a month ago we began following reports of a low path H3N1 avian flu spreading among poultry farms in West Flanders (see Belgium: Non-Reportable LPAI H3N1 In Poultry). At the time Agriholland reported LPAI H3N1 On 16 Belgium Poultry Farms.
Since H5 and H7 are the only LPAI viruses considered reportable by the OIE (see Terrestrial Animal Code Article 10.4.1.), this outbreak would have likely gone unnoticed were it not for its unusually high mortality rate (said to be as high as 60%).LPAI H3 infections are not uncommon in birds - particularly ducks - and occasionally turn up in poultry, although H3N2 and H3N8 appear to be more common than H3N1. Normally they produce little, if any, symptoms.
All of which makes Belgium's LPAI H3N1 virus a bit of an outlier, and a challenge for local authorities who are trying to contain it without benefit of a clear protocol.
Since our first report we've seen the number of affected farms continue to grow, raising concerns in neighboring countries (see France's ESA (Epidemiosurveillance Santé Animale) on LPAI H3N1 In Belgium).Since LPAI H3 is not a reportable disease, our usual official channels for information have been largely silent, and updates have been hard to come by. Today we do have an update from pluimveeweb.nl, in the Netherlands.
Eight new H3N1 bird flu outbreaks in Belgium
4 June 2019
Last week, eight new poultry farms in Flanders infected with low pathogenic H3N1 avian influenza. Thus the number of infected farms rose to 59. That said spokeswoman Liesbeth Van de Voorde of Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) after asking Pluivmeeweb.nl.
(Continue . . . )
As an LPAI virus, H3N1 isn't expected to produce the kind of morbidity and mortaloity being seen in these birds, leading to speculation of some sort of co-infection exacerbating their illness.
So far, we've not seen any confirmation.Nearly two months into this outbreak, LPAI H3N1 continues to spread in Belgium - and notifiable or not - is far from benign in poultry, and if not controlled, has the potential to extend its reach beyond West Flanders.
Stay tuned.
