Iraq: Media Report Of Numerous Poultry Deaths

 

 

# 5535

 

 

There are many places in the world where getting accurate and timely reports on outbreaks of infectious diseases – whether they affect animals or humans – can be very difficult.  

 

They may occur in remote regions with poor lines of communication, in areas without modern medical testing or surveillance capabilities, or in nations dealing with armed conflict or natural disasters, or in countries with repressive governments or limited press freedoms.

 

Many places could put a checkmark beside two or more of those conditions.  Which makes it hard to access the true impact of many diseases around the world.

 

One of those places is Iraq, which is still reeling from decades of military conflict and political turmoil.

  

 

Although surrounded by countries that have reported outbreaks of H5N1 in the past (most notably Turkey and Saudi Arabia), we’ve seen relatively few reports of bird flu coming out of Iraq in recent years. 

 

In 2008 we saw Iraq: H9 Bird Flu Detected In Duhok, Reports Of Extensive Bird Culling In Iraq, and KUNA: Bird Flu Detected In Iraqi Birds.  

 

And if you go back to 2006, three human infections were confirmed by the World Health Organization  (see  Avian influenza – situation in Iraq - update 5).

 

 

We occasionally see media reports in the Arab press of bird die offs, sometimes attributed to `bird flu’.  Rarely do we get updates, or laboratory confirmation of the kind of `bird flu’ involved. 

 

Today, we’ve another such report, out of Diyala, Iraq.  It is reported in Arabic by the Independent Iraqi news service Aswat al-Iraq.

 

While the strain of bird flu is not mentioned, based on the `loss of thousands of chickens’, one would assume if this is avian influenza, it is a highly pathogenic strain.

 

There are, of course, other poultry diseases that could account for these kinds of losses, including Newcastle and fowl cholera (Pasteurella multocida). So, until we see some laboratory results, I’d recommend taking the diagnosis of `bird flu’ with a grain of salt.

 

The following was discovered and posted by Sharon Sanders on FluTrackers, and is a machine translation from the original Arabic.   

 

 

The bird flu epidemic threatens thousands of poultry in Diyala (FT link)

28/04/2011 14:54

Diyala / Aswat al-Iraq: Member of the Committee warned services in the province of Diyala on Thursday, a disaster and epidemic led to the deaths of thousands of poultry in the province, as an agricultural source said that the epidemic is widespread in the areas of the Khanaqin.

The Prince Abdul Sajid told (Voices of Iraq) that "the Diyala province, suffer from the spread of bird flu pandemic, which led to the deaths of thousands of chickens in different parts of Diyala, including seven of thousands of chickens in the elimination of Baquba."

 

Talib Abd al-Amir and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock to "show greater attention to addressing the epidemic through the provision of pesticides needed."

 

For his part, said an official source at the Agriculture Department of Diyala, "The flu is widespread in the areas of the Khanaqin (155 km north east of Baquba), noting that" the epidemic is widespread in areas Qrtbp and powerful and led to the loss of thousands of chickens. "

 

He attributed the source of many of the most important reasons for the indiscriminate importation of eggs as well as the poor quality of the vaccines used, he said.

 

Baquba, capital of Diyala province, lies 57 km northeast of the capital Baghdad.

(Arabic Source Link)

 

 

For whatever reason, an English version of this story does not appear to have been published on the Aswat al-Iraq English language page.

 

Obviously we’ll keep an eye on this for future updates.

The Krasnoyarsk Duck Die Off

 

 

# 4818

 

 

 

Yesterday Dutchy on FluTrackers tracked down, translated, and posted an article from a Russian online news source that detailed the die off of `500’ birds.

 

Crof mentioned this story yesterday here.

First the original reports, then some follow ups:

 

 

Unknown virus in Krasnoyarsk lake killed 500 birds
KRASNOYARSK, September 20. On the shore of Lake Tagar in the Krasnoyarsk Territory ornithologists found dead migratory birds.

 

Among the dead birds - ducks (mallard, Cherokee, shelohvost) and crows. According EMERCOM Russia in Krasnoyarsk region, only found about 500 animals.

 

In connection with the emergency on the lake and 100-meter zone of sanitary quarantine. 2 posts were put up DPS and get information boards. Moreover, in Minusinsk District banned the hunting passes Ngs.ru

 

Causes of death of the birds are being investigated. Presumably, the death of the birds could occur as a result of acute viral disease. In this regard, there are already several reports on the return of bird flu.

 

Since then, the story has evolved (you can follow new reports on this thread), with additional contributions first from Sally Furniss and again from Dutchy.

 

1.09.2010 | 06:38

The cause of mass deaths of migratory birds in the area of Lake Tagar in the Krasnoyarsk Territory became virus type "A"

These are the preliminary findings of the Professional Regional Veterinary Service. According to ITAR-TASS, they completed this morning blood tests dead birds. It is reported that the general form of the virus.

 

Its varieties are numerous / avian, swine flu, etc. / and represent a significant risk in epidemiological terms. Currently Minusinsk region, where there was an emergency, completed a survey area, the collection of biomass dead birds, which will subsequently be burned. All poultry entered the edge closure of birds.

 

Apparently the exact type of influenza has not been nailed down, but given the mass die off, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (like H5N1) seems highly likely.

 

This next report from Dutchy not only asks if this is the return of Bird Flu, but also expands the size of the die off to `thousands’.

 

There is also a 2.5 minute Russian language news clip you can watch with video of the lake and the collection of dead and dying birds.

 

 

 

Although influenza appears to be the prime suspect here, other possibilities have been floated as well. The article below calls into question the original theory that blamed a blue-green algae bloom as the cause – and casts doubt on this being some kind of man-made toxin.

 

That said, poisonings (intentional or accidental), are often behind large bird die offs.

 

For now the culprit does appear to be a flu virus, and the leading candidate is H5N1.

 

 

Has bird flu returned?
21/09/2010
In the Krasnoyarsk region trying to find out what caused the mass deaths of migratory birds in the southern region.

 

In the Lake Tagar found about thousands of dead ducks. Specialists suggest that they died from the virus that is dangerous not only for birds but for the man.

- snip -

Among the dead and sick birds, biologists have discovered not just different species of ducks: mallards, teal, sorokonosku, but even a few crows and wagtails. All dead birds feed in different ways, and this fact is called into question the original version of the epidemic - the poisoning of ducks, blue-green algae.

 

No companies with environmentally dangerous production next either. Xiii and version of the intentional poisoning of ducks. Such mass mortality of wild birds in the Krasnoyarsk region has never been. And the epidemic is local in character.

More (machinetranslation in English)

 

 

 

News stories out of Russia (or anywhere else, for that matter) should always be taken with a grain of salt.  Early reports are often wrong or misleading and `facts’ – such as in the number of birds killed – are often revised in later reports.

 

Those caveats aside, this incident is definitely worth following.  As Crof said yesterday, it reminds one of the Qinghai Lake mass die off in 2005.

 

Earlier this summer, you may remember I blogged on an H5N1 Avian Flu Wild Bird Deaths On Russian-Mongolian Border. 

 

You can keep tabs on these latest reports by hitting the FluTrackers Thread.  Of course, I’ll  post any major updates here, as well.

 

For more on how the volunteer newshounds find, translate, and analyze foreign language news reports like this, you might wish to read Newshounds: They Cover The Pandemic Front.

The Cambodian Duck Mystery

 

(UPDATED) 

 

# 4314

 

A curious report out of Cambodia, where 10,000 ducks have died and another 30,000 are reported sickened in Takeo province, which borders Vietnam. 

 

The cause of these bird deaths is not yet known, although bird flu is no doubt under consideration.  There are other possibilities, of course, including parasites or toxins, or even other virus strains. 

 

 

While ducks can and do die from H5N1, they often carry the virus asymptomatically or exhibit minor symptoms, like weight loss.  The range of symptoms seems dependent upon the species of duck, as some are more resistant than others.

 

Hopefully we’ll get test results back on this die off in the next day or two.  In the meantime, a hat tip to RoRo on FluTrackers for posting this report.

 

 

 

Over 10,000 ducks die in Cambodia

2010-02-01 19:59

The Cambodian government said on Monday that more than 10,000 ducks have died and some 30,000 others are being sick in the country's southern province of Takeo.

 

Kao Phal, director of animal production department of agriculture ministry said that samples of the dead ducks being examined and the results will be known Tuesday or the day after.

 

He said that those dead ducks were reported happening a few days ago and now some 30,000 others are being sick.

 

Kao Phal said while sample testing is being examined, he could not tell what the cause to the deaths of the ducks was.

 

However, he said no report of any disease or death of human lives, but at the same time precaution to villagers is strictly advised by the government health concerning authorities.

 

According to Kao Sophal, the case is happening in Prey Khla village, Rominh Commune, Koh Andeth district in Takeo province, some 90 km south of Phnom Penh.

 

Cambodia, in the past and present, has had reports on the bird flu and influenza A/H1N1.

 

 

This update, from the Phnom Penh Post.

 

FOWL PLAY: Takeo orders destruction of ducks

 

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 15:02

Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Kim Yuthana

The Takeo province Agriculture Office has ordered the farmers of domesticated ducks across the province to incinerate their birds and temporarily suspended the sale of the animals’ meat until the results tests for the H5N1 virus (also known as bird flu), come back from Phnom Penh this week following mass deaths of the fowl.

 

Nhib Sron, director of the Takeo agriculture office, said that since the middle of January, about 50,000 ducks in the province’s Koh Andeth district had contracted an unknown illness, and that there were signs the disease had reached some communes in neighbouring Tramkak district.

 

“We haven’t identified the virus or other agent causing these deaths, but we sent some of the dead animals to a Phnom Penh laboratory for analysis,” Nhib Sron said. Thai Ly, Takeo province’s chief officer of domesticated animals, said that 16,442 ducks had died since the outbreak began, and that roughly 31,000 more have fallen sick.