Six weeks ago in A Disturbing Dearth Of Data, we looked at a report of HPAI H5N8 detected among wild birds found dead on the shores of Peschanoe and Tabinsha lakes, in (Chelyabinsk region) Russia.
Since then, we've seen numerous reports of HPAI H5 avian influenza outbreaks (see Russia's Worsening HPAI H5 Outbreak (in Poultry), spreading across several western Siberian oblasts, very near their border with Kazakhstan.
A little over a week ago, in DEFRA: High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (H5N8) in Russia we looked at the the UK's latest report on avian flu activity in Russia, and the potential for migratory birds to spread the virus into Europe, Africa, or the Middle East this fall and winter.
The DEFRA report warned:
The genotype of the current H5N8 viruses in Russia is not yet known, and importantly it is not known whether this virus is showing further genetic reassortment compared to the 2016/17 and 2019/20 forms of the virus that spread to Europe. Increased fitness of these viruses for wild birds through such exchange is possible.
While there have been scattered mentions in the Russian media for several days, today the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan has announced they are dealing with a large epizootic of avian influenza.
(translated)
NKR is taking measures against the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza: vaccines are imported, territories are disinfected, dead animals are destroyed, and the export of poultry and related products is banned.
In seven districts of the North Kazakhstan region ( Timiryazevsky, Tayynshinsky, Zhambyl, Kyzylzharsky, Shal akyn, named after G. Musrepov, named after M. Zhumabaev ) from September 9 to 16 this year. the death of poultry of various species was registered.
The National Reference Center determined that highly pathogenic avian influenza was the cause of the death. In accordance with the adopted rules, the Republic of Kazakhstan notified the World Organization for Animal Health about the outbreak.
To urgently restore the safe status of the country and prevent the spread of HPAI, the Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, from September 17, 2020, introduced temporary restrictions on the export of live poultry and hatching eggs, down and feathers, poultry meat and all types of poultry products, feed and feed additives for poultry , as well as used equipment for keeping, slaughtering and cutting birds from Timiryazevsky, Zhambylsky, Kyzylzharsky, Tayinshinsky, Shal akyn, them. G. Musrepov, them. M. Zhumabayev districts of the North Kazakhstan region .
To eliminate a particularly dangerous disease, the Republican Anti- Epizootic Detachment and the North Kazakhstan Territorial Inspectorate of the KVKN are currently carrying out a set of mandatory measures, incl. destruction of corpses of birds, disinfection of premises and courtyard areas.
873 thousand doses of domestic drugs against highly pathogenic avian influenza have been allocated for the vaccination of animals in the territories bordering the Russian Federation .
By the decision of the special commission, the Republican antiepizootic detachment of the KVKN Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan will pay compensation to the owners of dead birds in the amount of the average monthly market value of animals .
The epizootic situation in the region is under the control of the ministry.
Let us remind you that on August 26 this year. The KVKN Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan introduced restrictions on the import of live birds, poultry products and related products from the Omsk region of the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/moa/press/news / details / minselhoz-ogranichil-vvoz-nekotoryh-tovarov-iz-omskoy-oblasti-rf? lang = ru ). However, according to experts and scientists, the HPAI causative agent can spread not only through these categories of goods, but also with the help of wild migratory birds.
While global avian flu activity has been greatly suppressed since the last great epizootic in 2017, big outbreaks are often followed by periods of quiescence. This summer's uptick in activity in Russia, and parts of Asia bears watching.
In the reporting period, 34 new HPAI outbreaks were reported in domestic birds in Asia, Europe and Oceania involving different HPAI subtypes namely H5N2, H5N5, H7N7 and H5 (neuraminidase subtype pending). 1 new outbreak of H5 was reported in non-poultry in Europe. In addition, 120 HPAI outbreaks in poultry and non-poultry are still ongoing in Oceania, Europe, Asia and Africa involving different subtypes, namely H5, H5N1, H5N5, H5N6, H5N8, H7N3, H7N7 and H7N9.
• Outbreaks of H5N1, H5N6 and H7N9 are still continuing in a few Asian countries with Chinese Taipei reporting recurrence of new H5N2 and H5N5 outbreaks.
• Australia experienced recurrence of H7N7 outbreaks after six years and the situation is continuing with fresh outbreaks.
• In South Africa ongoing outbreaks of H5N8 are still continuing. Russia, already experiencing ongoing outbreaks of H5N8 in non-poultry, also reported new H5 outbreaks in poultry and non-poultry. It is more likely that the source of infection in these outbreaks is contact with wild birds and followed by limited local spread.
Veterinary Authorities in the affected countries have responded to contain outbreaks in poultry with stamping out measures, heightened surveillance, and recommendations to poultry owners to increase biosecurity. The OIE Standards, and the transparency of reporting through the OIE’s World Animal Health Information System, provide the framework for Veterinary Services to implement effective surveillance, reporting, and controls for avian influenza.
Wild bird surveillance can indicate periods of heightened risk, and at these times measures to improve on-farm biosecurity may reduce the likelihood of exposure of poultry.
