Defra: Update On HPAI Avian Flu In Europe, America & The Middle East

 

# 9834

 

An indication of how quickly things are changing, although this document was put online today and carries a March 13th release date, HPAI H5 has been reported in a 10th American State (Kansas) since this report was written.

After the great H5N1 diaspora of 2005-2006, where the virus spread from 15 countries to more than 60 in two years, it began to recede in most places, becoming endemic in just a handful. 

 

While remaining a perennial concern in places like China, Indonesia, India, and Egypt . . . the feared global expansion of HPAI H5N1 stopped almost as abruptly as it began. And except for occasional appearances in Japan, Korea, and Nigeria, the virus settled into an uneasy status quo.

 

But a little over a year ago a new HPAI H5 virus appeared in Korean Poultry; H5N8.  In short order it was detected in Japan, and China, and within months turned up in Europe, Taiwan, Canada, and now the United States.   As a world traveling HPAI virus, H5N8 has picked up where H5N1 stalled out.

Added to this, we’ve significant H7N9 activity in China, a record setting outbreak of human H5N1 infections in Egypt, and a growing roster of new reassortant avian flu viruses bubbling up in China (see China: H5 AI Rising).

 

Due to this rapidly changing avian threat, for the second month in a row the UK government has issued an avian flu update.

 

 

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal & Plant Health Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring
Updated Outbreak Assessment

Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: Europe, America and the Middle East 13th March 2015

Ref: VITT/1200 HPAI Europe, America and Middle East

Disease Report

No further outbreaks of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Italy,
Netherlands, Germany or the UK.

Hungary reported a single outbreak of H5N8 HPAI earlier this month in Bekes region. The affected premises contained 16 day old fattener ducks in which clinical signs were observed, probably related to the young age of the birds as in adults birds infected with the same strain of virus, clinical signs have been relatively mild in cases to date. Disease control measures were put in place and no further spread was reported.

Bulgaria reported an outbreak of H5N1 HPAI in a backyard flock in Burgas region and also in three more wild birds (Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus, Rock dove, Columba livia and a Black headed gull, Larus ridibundus). Sequence data has confirmed this is related to the Central Asian strains circulating in wild birds and associated with the last poultry and wild bird incursions Europe in 2010. Disease control measures were put in place.

Israel has reported further cases of H5N1 HPAI in poultry: five more outbreaks in Hamerkaz in commercial poultry (turkeys and broilers). Disease control measures are in place. Sequence data has confirmed this is a poultry-adapted strain found in this region previously and closely related to strains associated with outbreaks in Egypt. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal & Plant Health Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring

USA continues to report avian influenza. A further outbreak of H5N8 HPAI in commercial birds (a mixed duck and chicken premises) has been reported in California. H5N2 HPAI has been reported from commercial premises in Idaho, Washington State, Minnesota, Missouri and Arkansas. The most recent outbreaks in Mid-USA are all in commercial turkeys and represent a large geographic jump in disease distribution to the centre of the country which suggests a corresponding spread of H5N2 HPAI in wild birds into the Central Flyway as well as a the Pacific Flyway. Sequence data for the virus isolated from the turkey cases showed 99% similarity to wild bird viral sequences. Wild bird cases of H5N8 and H5N2 HPAI continue to be reported within the Pacific Flyway States.

Situation Assessment In addition to the outbreaks and wild bird cases reported in Europe, the Middle East and America, there are still multiple virus subtypes circulating in Asia (Japan, China, Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam) as well as Nigeria (H5N1 HPAI) and a significant increase in outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI in Egypt (for further information on the situation in Egypt, see the FAO report at

http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_060315.html) .

Recently the WHO has Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal & Plant Health Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring produced a warning about the increase in avian influenza viruses in terms of both circulation and diversity emphasising that vigilance is required in case of a potential increase in human infection, but it should be emphasised that of the recently reported outbreaks of H5N8 HPAI, none have caused spill-over infection into humans (WHO, 2015).

Nevertheless cases of human infection are still occurring, with H5N1 HPAI in Egypt and China and three cases of H5N6 HPAI in China, while avian influenza H7N9 continues to cause human cases in China. The recent report of two human cases of H7N9 in travellers returning from China to Canada demonstrates the risk of carriage by humans to new areas. Nevertheless the co-circulation of multiple lineages and subtypes of H5 HPAI within different continents will likely result in further genetic diversity within this group of viruses with unknown implications for its maintenance and spread.

Conclusion The continuing outbreaks of HPAI and LPAI occurring across the EU and wider afield, means the likelihood of the UK having another outbreak remains increased for the upcoming weeks. It would not be unexpected to see a degree of seasonality in the timing of the outbreaks but for the time being we would like to remind all poultry keepers to maintain high standards of biosecurity and report any suspect clinical signs promptly. For reports of wild birds (any number of swans, ducks and geese or >5 other birds) found dead by the public, please notify the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and see the Gov.uk website for more information: https://www.gov.uk/avian-influenza-bird-flu

Defra: Avian H7 Virus Found In Hampshire Poultry

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Stressing that this is supposedly a less worrisome (albeit, not fully identified) subtype of avian flu, DEFRA today has announced the detection of what they suspect is H7N7 at a chicken farm southern County of Hampshire, England.

 

A low severity case of avian flu has been confirmed in chickens at a farm in Hampshire.

A low severity case of avian flu has been confirmed in chickens at a farm in Hampshire and robust action is being taken to prevent any spread of the disease, which poses very low risk to human health.

Tests have confirmed the outbreak as a low severity H7 strain of the disease, a much less severe form than the H5N8 strain found at a Yorkshire duck farm in November. There are no links between the two cases.

A 1km poultry movement restriction zone has been imposed and the birds at the commercial chicken breeding farm are to be culled as part of our tried and tested procedures for responding swiftly and thoroughly when an outbreak occurs.

The advice from Public Health England is that the risk to public health is very low, and the Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for consumers.

Chief Vet Nigel Gibbens said:

We have taken immediate action to contain this outbreak as part of our robust procedures for dealing swiftly with avian flu. This is a low severity form of the virus and we are taking action to ensure that the disease does not spread or develop into a more severe form. We are investigating the possible sources of the outbreak.

I would urge poultry keepers in the surrounding area to be vigilant for any signs of disease and to ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises.

Nick Phin, Director for Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control said:

Based on what we know about this strain of avian influenza and the actions that have been taken, the risk to human health in this case is considered very low. Public Health England continues to work closely with Defra throughout this investigation.

A spokesperson for the Food Standards Agency said:

On the basis of current scientific evidence, Food Standards Agency advice is that avian (bird) flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Laboratory investigations on the outbreak indicate that it is the N7 sub-type of H7 but this will need to be confirmed in further testing.

 

 

Although characterizing this as a `low severity’ virus, it isn’t at all clear whether this is a LPAI or HPAI virus.  Hopefully we’ll get more information once additional testing is completed, and  the OIE report is filed.

Although the UK had dealt with other H7 strains (H7N2, H7N3) in the past, it wasn’t until 2008 that England reported an H7N7 outbreak to the OIE (see UK: Outbreak Identified As H7N7).

Until H7N9 turned up (amazingly, less than 2 years ago), H7 avian viruses didn’t get a lot of respect as a human health threat.   Human infections were uncommon, and when they were detected, they tended to be mild. 

 

Often little more than sniffles and conjunctivitis.

 

The `exception’ occurred in 2003, in the Netherlands, where an outbreak of H7N7 infected at least 89 people, killing one. Details on that cluster were reported in the December 2005 issue of the Eurosurveillance Journal.

Human-to-human transmission of avian influenza A/H7N7, The Netherlands, 2003

M Du Ry van Beest Holle, A Meijer, M Koopmans³ CM de Jager, EEHM van de Kamp, B Wilbrink, MAE. Conyn-van Spaendonck, A Bosman

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H7N7 began in poultry farms in the Netherlands in 2003. Virus infection was detected by RT-PCR in 86 poultry workers and three household contacts of PCR-positive poultry workers, mainly associated with conjunctivitis.

 

Roughly 30 million birds residing on more than 1,000 farms were culled to control the outbreak. One person - a veterinarian who visited an infected farm – died a week later of respiratory failure.

More recently (and more typically), in 2013, we saw three poultry workers in Italy infected with H7N7 (see ECDC Update & Assessment: Human Infection By Avian H7N7 In Italy).  All three experienced mild symptoms (primarily conjunctivitis), although one did report muscle aches and chills.

 

While normally credited with producing mild symptoms in humans – H7N7 - like all influenza viruses, is constantly mutating and evolving.

 

But for now, H7N7 is believed to pose only a minimal risk to human health.   For more on H7 viruses, you may wish to revisit  Brief History Of H7 Avian Flu Infections.

UK: Defra Assessment Of Recent H5N8 Outbreaks In Germany & Italy

Credit Defra

 

 

# 9478

 

Defra has released a preliminary assessment of last week’s announced outbreaks of H5N8 in both Italy and Germany, indicating that the likely the source of infection was through indirect contact with infected wild birds, and warning that the `likelihood of the UK having another outbreak is increased for the upcoming period’.

 

 

Preliminary Outbreak Assessment
Outbreaks of H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in poultry in Germany and Italy

23rd December 2014 Ref: VITT/1200 H5N8 HPAI in Italy & Germany

Disease Report

Italy has reported for the first time an outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the province of Rovigo, Veneto, following reports of increased mortality. The affected premises is a turkey fattener farm of ~32,000 birds, which forms part of a large enterprise with holdings in several Italian regions. Disease control measures set out in Directive 2005/94/EC have been implemented, including the establishment of 3km protection and 10 km surveillance zones, in addition to culling, and cleansing and disinfection (OIE, 2014a).

Germany has reported two further outbreaks of H5N8 HPAI, since the initial one in November in Mecklenurg Vorpommern. The first on the 16th December in the district of Cloppenburg in Lower Saxony in a poultry holding consisting of ~18,000 birds (turkey fatteners) following clinical signs (increased mortality) reported. The second was in an indoor duck fattening unit of ~10,000 birds in Elmsland region, Lower Saxony. Disease control measures set out in Directive 2005/94/EC have been implemented. Culling on the infected premises has bee completed, and movement controls and tracings have been implemented (OIE, 2014b). In addition, Germany has also reported another wild bird testing positive for H5N8 HPAI, this time, a mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) in Sachsen Anhalt. Sequence analyses for the viruses are anticipated with interest, to determine the relationships to those from outbreaks in Netherlands, Germany and the UK as well as further afield in Canda, USA, Japan, Republic of Korea and China, potentially providing insights into origins

Situation Assessment H5N8 HPAI has now been reported in four European Union Member States including the UK, and comprehensive updates were presented on the situation in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands at the meeting of the EU Plant Animal, Food and Feed Committee (PAFF) held on 5th December (see
http://ec.europa.eu/food/committees/regulatory/scfcah/animal_health/presentations_en.htm#03022009 .

At that time, one outbreak in Germany was reported in fattening turkeys in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region, plus a positive surveillance sample from a shot wild duck approximately 100km from the IP. Netherlands reported 5 outbreaks amongst breeding and laying poultry, in addition to positive faecal samples from wild birds. Ongoing epidemiological investigations into the source of the EU poultry outbreaks have failed to reveal any poultry sector source to date for the majority of cases.

Since January 2014, H5N8 HPAI has caused outbreaks in the Republic of Korea, Japan and China. More recently, the USA has reported a case in two wild birds: a captive Gyrfalcon which had been fed on hunted wild waterfowl. There have been no reports of human cases of H5N8 HPAI. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2014), the entry of H5N8 HPAI in to Europe, and its subsequent spread within Europe are separate events, with possibly two different transmission vectors.

As there are no known direct bird migration routes from Asia to Western Europe, long distance transmission could have resulted from crossover between birds congregating in North Eurasian breeding sites. The opinion of EFSA on the epidemiology of the spread of H5N8 HPAI within Europe is that transmission has occurred via fomites or indirectly via contact with humans or livestock or animal-derived products.

EFSA recommendations include assessment and improvement of biosecurity procedures in high risk areas, focussing on segregation between poultry and wild birds and specifically to reduce indirect fomite transmission risk in particular including the use of cleansing and disinfection. For wild birds, enhancement of active and passive surveillance of wild birds in the high risk areas to facilitate targeted measures to mitigate risk of spread.

According to TRACES, the EU Trade notification system, there have been no recent consignments of poultry (live birds, day old chicks or hatching eggs) to the UK from the affected regions in Italy or Germany.

Conclusion The continuing outbreaks of H5N8 HPAI occurring across the EU, their geospatial characteristics and timelines make it likely the source of infection is through indirect contact with infected wild birds. This means the likelihood of the UK having another outbreak is increased for the upcoming period. There is no significant increase in risk as a result of the infection on the premises in Italy and Germany as there has been no trade recently, but vigilance for our poultry keepers and any attending veterinarians should continue to be enhanced. We will continue to report on the situation.

We would like to remind all poultry keepers to maintain high standards of biosecurity and report any suspect clinical signs promptly. For reports of wild birds (any number of swans, ducks and geese or >5 other birds) found dead by the public, please notify the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and see the Gov.uk website for more information: https://www.gov.uk/avian-influenza-bird-flu

Authors Dr Rowena Hansen Jonathan Smith Prof. Ian Brown Dr Helen Roberts

Defra: H5N8 Confirmed In Yorkshire

Yorkshire – Credit Wikipedia

 

 

# 9339

 

Although it has been widely suspected for the past couple of days, in the past few minutes Defra (UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has confirmed that the outbreak of bird flu at a Yorkshire duck farm is of the same subtype as the recent outbreaks at poultry farms in Germany and the Netherlands.

 

Avian flu (bird flu) outbreak in duck breeding farm in Yorkshire

Defra has confirmed a case of avian flu in a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire.

On 16 November Defra confirmed a case of avian flu (bird flu) in a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire. The strain has now been confirmed as H5N8, which is a very low risk to human health and no risk to the food chain.

Key information

These links will provide guidance to poultry keepers and to the public.

• Defra guidance: avian influenza (bird flu): latest situation; how to spot it and report it
• Public Health England Avian influenza outbreak in Yorkshire - risk to public health extremely low
• Food Standards Agency advice: avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Latest news

18 November - update on cull of poultry at affected farm.

As part of our robust action in response to the confirmed case of avian flu, the culling of 6,000 ducks is underway on the affected farm in east Yorkshire .The cull is to prevent the spread of potential infection, and is being carried out in a safe and humane manner by fully trained APHA staff. Our response to this outbreak follows tried and tested procedures for dealing with avian flu outbreaks and we expect the cull to be completed later today.

Additionally, our animal health laboratory at Weybridge has confirmed that the outbreak in East Yorkshire is the H5N8 strain. The advice from the Chief Medical Officer and Public Health England remains that the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency have said there is no food safety risk for consumers.

Background

Immediate action has been taken to control the outbreak including introducing a 10km restriction zone and a complete cull of all 6,000 birds on the farm to prevent any potential spread of infection.

The case confirmed on Sunday afternoon has been identified as a H5 avian flu strain and tests are being run to identify the exact strain of the disease. Public Health England have confirmed the risk to public health is extremely low and we have ruled out the H5N1 strain that is infectious for humans.

Investigations are now ongoing to discover whether the outbreak is linked to cases found in Netherlands and Germany with further test results expected over the coming days.

The UK has a strong track record of controlling and eliminating previous outbreaks of avian flu and all action will be taken to control this outbreak to prevent a further spread of the disease.

The restriction zone bans movements of all poultry, products and waste within the area. Poultry must be housed or isolated in the zone. Bird gatherings (fairs, shows, exhibitions) are banned and game birds cannot be released.

For media enquiries only please contact Defra press office on 02072386007. For other enquiries contact the Defra Helpline: 03459 33 55 77

If anyone suspects any strain of avian influenza you must contact your nearest Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) office.

(Continue . . .)

Defra: Yorkshire Bird Flu Tentatively Identified As H5 Subtype

 
Yorkshire – Credit Wikipedia

 

# 9336

 

Europe’s third bird flu outbreak in less than two weeks has been tentatively identified as an H5 variety – although further testing is required to nail down the exact subtype.  The two earlier outbreaks (Germany & The Netherlands) were both H5N8 – a new, upstart virus that previously had only appeared in Korea and Northeastern China.

 

Defra (the UK’s Department of Environment, Farming & Rural Affairs) has ruled out the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, but that leaves a small rogues gallery of other H5 subtypes as possibilities – including H5N8.   Other possibilities include H5N2 and (less likely) H5N3.

 

Since I went into some detail yesterday on the recent rise, and spread, of avian flu viruses in Asia (see FAO On The Potential Threat Of HPAI Spread Via Migratory Birds), I’ll not repeat that here.   Below you’ll find the Defra statement on the Yorkshire outbreak.

 

 

Avian flu outbreak in duck breeding farm in Yorkshire

From:

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency

First published:

17 November 2014

Part of:

Protecting animal health and preventing disease, including in trade, Food and farming and Wildlife and animal welfare

Defra has confirmed a case of avian flu outbreak in a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire.

Defra has confirmed a case of avian flu outbreak in a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire with very low risk to human health and no risk to the food chain.

Immediate action has been taken to control the outbreak including introducing a 10km restriction zone and a complete cull of all 6,000 birds on the farm to prevent any potential spread of infection. The case confirmed on Sunday afternoon has been identified as a H5 avian flu strain and tests are being run to identify the exact strain of the disease. Public Health England have confirmed the risk to public health is extremely low and we have ruled out the H5N1 strain that is infectious for humans.

Further advice from the Food Standards Agency is that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Investigations are now ongoing to discover whether the outbreak is linked to cases found in Netherlands and Germany with further test results expected over the coming days. The UK has a strong track record of controlling and eliminating previous outbreaks of avian flu and all action will be taken to control this outbreak to prevent a further spread of the disease.

The restriction zone bans movements of all poultry, products and waste within the area. Poultry must be housed or isolated in the zone. Bird gatherings (fairs, shows, exhibitions) are banned and game birds cannot be released.

For media enquiries only please contact Defra press office on 02072386007. For other enquiries contact the Defra Helpline: 03459 33 55 77

If anyone suspects any strain of avian influenza you must contact your nearest Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) office.

UK: Defra Preliminary Assessment On Germany’s H5N8 Outbreak In Poultry

# 9298

 

Yesterday’s surprise announcement (see Germany Reports H5N8 Outbreak in Turkeys) that an only recently emerged  subtype of avian flu has somehow turned up in Northern Germany has agricultural agencies scrambling to try to determine how it arrived in Europe, and just how much of a risk it poses to other poultry operations in the region.

 

Last spring we watched this new H5N8 virus emerge in South Korea, and spread to dozens of poultry farms, resulting in the destruction of more than 13 million birds. 

 

While no human infections were reported, this virus is a cousin of the H5N1 virus which fas a long history of occasionally infecting humans, often with tragic results.  South Korea did report detecting Dogs With H5N8 Antibodies.

 

Today Defra (the UK’s Department for Environment, Food  and Rural Affairs) has issued a preliminary outbreak assessment, that while short on answers, reminds poultry producers of the importance of surveillance and biosecurity measures.

 

The chaos, confusion, and economic losses sustained when the H5N1 virus arrived in Europe and the UK in 2006-07 are well remembered, and so no one is taking this new arrival lightly.

 

 

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring

Preliminary Outbreak Assessment

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in turkeys in Germany

06 November 2014 Ref: VITT/1200 H5N8 HPAI in Germany

Disease Report Germany has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N8 in fattening turkeys in North East Germany (Mecklenburg Western Pomerania) (see map; OIE, 2014). Increased mortality was observed in one of the six sheds of 15 week old birds for fattening (total number of turkeys on the premises ~ 31,000 of which each shed contained 5,000). Disease control measures have been implemented including 3km and 10km protection and surveillance zones in line with Directive 2005/94/EC and the birds in the affected shed as well as all other poultry in the protection zone have been destroyed. There have been no recent traded consignments from the affected areas to the UK or other Member States.

Situation Assessment During the past year, HPAI H5N8 has been reported from several countries in the Far East, in Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China (near the border with the Democratic Republic of Korea). In ROK, in excess of thirty five outbreaks have been reported since early 2014 from commercial poultry (principally breeding ducks but also chickens) and additional detections in wild waterfowl, resulting in the destruction of over 12 million poultry. In China, positive samples were found at a market during routine surveillance under the national plan. Japan reported just a single outbreak. 

Genetic characterisation of the viruses from both poultry and wild birds in ROK and China revealed there was very high sequence similarity with the haemagglutinin (HA) gene of H5N1 HPAI viruses isolated in China in 2011 and clustered within clade 2.3.4.6 indicating this newly emerged virus has derived following reassortment of H5N1 HPAI with other influenza viruses co-circulating in avian populations (Ku et al 2014; Lee et al 2014; Wu et al 2014). The predicted putative binding to host cell receptors is similar to H5N1 HPAI, preferentially binding the ‘avian’ receptor. However although no human infections with this virus have been reported to date, the potential risk to public health cannot be ignored. Wild Waterfowl and commercial ducks have been found to harbour the virus in ROK (Lee et al, 2014), where the infection caused depression, egg drop, some neurological signs and a slight increase in mortality. There is currently no evidence for the virus being present in wild waterfowl in Europe, although this possibility cannot be ruled out. In the absence of any other epidemiological explanation, virus introduction into Germany via wild birds appears highly plausible.

Conclusion This is the season for increased wild bird migration especially waterfowl as well as seasonal poultry production and therefore there is an increased risk of incursion of any notifiable avian disease into the poultry sector through direct and indirect contact with wild birds and / or poor biosecurity. The report in North East Germany at this time of year therefore does increase the level of risk of incursion to the UK, although it is difficult to predict quantitatively with any precise confidence without data on any potential reservoir species and current wild bird demographics. However current UK wild bird surveillance targeting higher risk species for H5N1 HPAI infection is aligned with current knowledge from the Far East on carrier populations for H5N8. We will continue to report on the situation. We would like to remind all poultry keepers to maintain high standards of biosecurity, remain vigilant and report any suspect clinical signs promptly.