Major Migratory Flyways of the World
#17,613
Up until a couple of years ago - before avian H5N1 crossed the Atlantic - we'd closely watch Western Russia during the summer for signs of avian flu outbreaks, as they often presaged the arrival (via migratory birds) of a new wave of HPAI to Europe in the fall.
Europe's first major avian epizootic began just after the summer of 2016, following reports from the OIE and FAO on a large migratory bird die off around Ubsu-Nur Lake in Russia & Mongolia.
We'd later learn that the H5N8 virus had reassorted (see EID Journal: Reassorted HPAI H5N8 Clade 2.3.4.4. - Germany 2016) and had spun off a new subclade (2.3.4.4.b).
This `new' H5 subclade quickly conquered Europe, moved into the Middle East, and traveled down the spine of Africa, crossing the equator for the first time. It was not only quite deadly to poultry, it had increased its host range in birds, and for the first time, persisted at low levels over the summer in Europe.
These events abolished any lingering doubts over the role of migratory birds in the spreading of HPAI viruses (see India: The H5N1 & Migratory Birds Debate).
A 2016 study (see Sci Repts.: Southward Autumn Migration Of Waterfowl Facilitates Transmission Of HPAI H5N1), suggested that waterfowl pick up new HPAI viruses in the spring (likely from poultry or terrestrial birds) on their northbound trip to their summer high latitude breeding spots - where they spread and potentially evolve - and then redistribute them on their southbound journey the following fall.
Which means, that today - even if HPAI has persisted in our local birds over the summer - we may see new genotypes, subtypes, or subclades arrive when migratory birds return in the fall.
Most won't be able to compete with existing genotypes, but - as we saw first in 2016 with H5N8, and again in 2021 with H5N1 - game changing reassortants are always possible.
Migratory birds for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa spend their summers in Siberia, Mongolia, or China (see map at top of blog), but in North America more than 200 bird species spend their summers in the Alaskan Arctic Refuge and in Canada, which migrate south via all four North American Flyways.
Although primarily comprised of North American birds, this area is also overlapped by the East Asian flyway, which may allow birds from Siberia and Mongolia to intermix with our migratory bird population (see USGS: Alaska - A Hotspot For Eurasian Avian Flu Introductions).
So what happens with avian flu in Siberia, Mongolia, or china matters . . . to Europe, to the Americas, and to the world.
First from the Website of the City of Birsk, we get the following (translated) report:
At a poultry farm in the village of Avdon, Ufimsky district, a focus of bird flu infection of chickens was revealed. The owner of the poultry farm "Bashkirskaya" reported about the death of birds in the Ufa regional veterinary station. The experts took samples and sent them to the Federal Center for Animal Health in Vladimir and to the Bashkir laboratory. The State Committee of the Republic of Belarus for Emergency Situations confirmed the fears of bird flu.
Rospotrebnadzor specialists are taking preventive and anti-epidemic measures to exclude the possibility of infection of people. It is known that the poultry farm suspends the sale of products to its partners for six months. They will be forced to destroy the products received from the poultry farm after July 30th. The disposal costs will be covered by the company. A list of settlements that fell into the threatened zone due to the disease has been published.
And from the local office of Rospotrebnadzor (the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing):
11.08.2023
The Office of Rospotrebnadzor in the outbreak organized and carried out all the necessary preventive and anti-epidemic measures aimed at reducing the risk of infection of people. Including: door-to-door rounds were organized in the settlements closest to the poultry farm, daily medical monitoring of persons in contact with the poultry was established, laboratory studies of the material from the workers of the poultry farm were carried out, explanatory work with the population on the rules for keeping poultry, control was established over the sale of agricultural products, over the destruction of all dead birds, carrying out disinfection measures.
An analysis is being made of the incidence of influenza, SARS, bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia among the population, including poultry workers.
The situation is under the control of the Office of Rospotrebnadzor.
And from the website for the City of Ufa, we get an unusually detailed look at plans to incinerate infected birds in open pits this week.
(translated)
The Ministry of Emergency Situations warned about the burning of birds infected with influenza in Avdon
At present, the source of infection is localized.
In connection with the situation that arose at JSC "Bashkirskaya Poultry Farm" in the village. Avdon, due to bird flu, planned work will be carried out in the prepared territory of the Ufimsky district from August 12 to 19 in order to prevent the spread of the virus. In the presence of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, a controlled burning of the dead bird will take place.
At present, the source of infection is localized, specialists of specialized services are working on the spot.
The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Republic of Bashkortostan asks to remain calm - all necessary measures have been taken to ensure safety during burning.
In order to ensure fire safety, pits were prepared, grass was mowed and cleared, the distance to the nearest tree plantations was more than 100 meters.
Fire stations will be posted on site on a permanent basis.
The request of residents of the nearest settlements and road users along the M5 highway to treat the current situation with understanding, since during the destruction, smoke may be generated in the nearest sections of the territory. Drivers are advised to slow down or take alternative routes.
We remind you of the telephone numbers of special services.
• Unified Duty Dispatch Service of the Ufimsky District: 272-03-01; 272-02-05.
• Hotline of the State Committee of the Republic of Belarus for Veterinary Medicine: 8-800-77-55-828.
The situation is under control.
On August 10, laboratory tests at Bashkirskaya Poultry Farm JSC confirmed the diagnosis of avian influenza. The head of the republic signed a decree on the introduction of quarantine on the territory of the Ufimsky district and declaring the territory of Bashkirskaya Poultry Farm JSC as an epizootic focus.
Taking into account the incubation period of this disease, which ranges from 1 to 21 calendar days, products manufactured before 07/20/2023 years, can be applied without fear. There is a slight risk that poultry meat and eggs produced after this date may be contaminated with the pathogen.
Currently, all products produced after the specified date are withdrawn from retail chains and will be destroyed.
The bird flu virus dies at 100°C. Before eating poultry products, be sure to subject them to heat treatment. Boil the egg for at least 10 minutes, meat - at least 30 minutes at a temperature of 100 ° C. Do not eat raw or soft-boiled eggs.
In addition, we remind you of the observance of the rules of personal hygiene. Always wash hands and kitchen utensils with detergent after handling raw poultry or eggs.
You can contact specialists, ask questions by calling the hotline - 8 800 775 58 28 (calls are free for all residents of the republic).
So caveat emptor.
While it remains to be seen how much of a big deal this outbreak is, when you see this many official statements coming out of Russia on a weekend, it is probably worthy of our attention.
Stay tuned.
