UPDATED 1545 EDTEPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
A focal outbreak on a fur farm raising arctic foxes and raccoon dogs. Plenty of black-headed gulls have been observed around and at the fur farm. Currently no control measures are applied as HPAI is not "listed disease" in fur animals. Further sampling is planned on the fur farm. Veterinary authorities are working in tight collaboration with the public health authority. Improved biosecurity measures and use of personal protection equipment on fur farms are encouraged.
AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTIONA focal outbreak in a fur farm. Increased mortality in litters, also some adult animals have died. Three pups were examined and found positive for HPAI H5N1.
#17,546
While details remain limited, the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) has announced the detection of HPAI H5N1 in animals at multiple fur farms, including in blue foxes raised in Kausti, Central Ostrobothnia.
A total of 5 farms across Southern and Central Ostrobothnia are reportedly affected, although some tests are still pending. It isn't entirely clear what types of animals are involved at the other farms.
Last week the CDC raised their risk assessment on a strain of H5N1 which spread rapidly through a mink farm in Spain last fall, and yesterday we saw a joint announcement from the WHO, FAO, and WOAH warning that Ongoing Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Animals Pose Risk to Humans.
Additional details, including the results from additional testing - and genomic characterization of these viruses - will hopefully become available in short order. The translated statement follows.(Translation)
Avian flu has been found in the foxes of the fur farm
July 13, 2023
A bird flu infection has been detected in blue foxes in the fur farm in Kausti, Central Ostrobothnia. It is the same highly pathogenic H5N1 virus type that has caused several mass deaths of wild birds recently. In addition, animals from four other fur farms in Southern and Central Ostrobothnia have been found to have the influenza virus, the more precise typing of which is still in progress at the Food Agency. Avian flu viruses are poorly contagious to humans, and infection usually requires close contact with infected animals or their secretions.
In Finland, avian influenza has not previously been detected in farmed fur animals. On the other hand, infection in wild foxes has been confirmed twice in Finland.
Influenza viruses were detected in the Food Agency's laboratory tests on samples sent by breeders to be examined in order to find out the cause of illness or death of the animals. Virus typing is still in progress from the samples sent from a total of four shelters in Kauhava, South Ostrobothnia and Halsua and Kaustine, Central Ostrobothnia. The sources of infection in fur farms are being investigated, but most likely the infections come from wild birds.
Bird flu infection in fur animals does not cause the shelter to be subject to restrictions imposed by the animal disease authority. The Finnish Food Agency and the regional administrative agencies are monitoring the situation in cooperation with the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) and the health authorities of the welfare regions. Follow-up samples are taken from the fur farms, which are examined to detect possible transformation of the influenza virus.
It is recommended that people working in fur farms always contact health care for instructions if they have respiratory symptoms suggestive of influenza (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and/or symptoms suggestive of encephalitis (neck stiffness combined with headache and nausea). Those working in shelters must constantly use protective equipment and take care of sufficiently careful hand washing to prevent the transfer of possible infections between animals and humans. In addition to the bird flu virus, fur animals can also contain other pathogens that infect humans, such as the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and salmonella. Fur farms must also try to prevent wild birds from coming into contact with farm animals as much as possible, and take care of effective rodent control.
Bird flu has been found in large numbers in wild birds this summer. A particularly large number of infections have occurred in laughter logs throughout Europe. The Food Agency is currently examining samples from several mass deaths of seagulls from different parts of Finland. The Food Agency's website is updated with up-to-date information on confirmed.
