The avian flu scare and after

Chethan Kumar, Nov 4, 2012

The outbreak of the H5N1 influenza has sent authorities into a tizzy even as the cause remains a mystery

Eleven days after the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) - a subtype H5N1 - was reported at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) farm at Hesaraghatta near here, the unit has no more birds.

The authorities, under the supervision of appropriate personnel, have culled all the birds in the farm following the Centre’s Action Plan-2012 for control and containment of AI.
Thousands of birds, including chicken, duck and emu, having been culled; and the process of disposing them of and sanitising the 50-odd units that are a part of the farm having begun, the focus now is on how to contain the spread of the virus.

A prohibitory order banning the sale and marketing of poultry and poultry products in a 10-km radius of the CPDO is in place till November 15, as a precaution.

While the officials concerned and doctors are on the prevention job, the cause and the spread of the virus is still undetermined. Almost 200 samples have been sent to the high-security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, and another laboratory, but the State departments are still awaiting the reports.

A well-placed source said that even the reports might not be able to identify the cause accurately. Thereby, the way it spread will go undetermined if one depends completely on the reports. Theories are afloat about migratory birds having caused it. There is, however, no confirmation.

In an attempt to find out the source of the virus, the authorities have, besides blood samples, begun checking bird-feed, litter, feather samples and water, sources said. The focus, however, is on bird litter which spreads the virus faster.

While no fresh cases of bird deaths due to the flu have been reported in and around Hesaraghatta, or in Bangalore, caution is prescribed by almost everybody involved in detecting and solving the problem.

Most AI viruses do not infect humans. Some, including H5N1, have, however, caused serious infections in the past. Experts believe that the case fatality rate for H5N1 virus infections is much higher compared with other seasonal influenza infections.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “The disease caused by the H5N1 virus follows an unusually aggressive clinical course with rapid deterioration, and has high fatality.”

The incubation period for H5N1 avian influenza may be longer than that for normal seasonal influenza, which is around two to three days. Data with the WHO shows that H5N1 infection indicates an incubation period ranging from two to eight days and possibly as long as 17 days.

Further, the authorities, who are confident of containing the virus from spreading to other birds in the vicinity and to humans, are busy with sanitation work. According to experts, the sanitisation process is expected to take at least eight to 10 days more as no prescribed procedure, given the nature of the virus, can be ignored. 

“We also need to take care of disposing of the birds that have been culled and those that will be culled to prevent the disease from spreading further,” a senior official from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences (AH&VS) said.

Dead birds, including those culled, have to be buried in a four-layered pit filled with different kinds of chemicals at every layer in order to ensure containment of the disease.
Besides, the equipment in the farm have to be sanitised and there are different procedures to sanitise plastic, iron and steel equipment.

While sanitisation of the 50-odd units at the farm is a headache, authorities also have to worry about the scientific disposal of the litter, the paddy husk used in the sheds, the seeds, et al; and officials point out that this is a more difficult task than disposing of dead birds. Given the complexities, the AH&VS department has to take sufficient care of the personnel involved in such tasks.

On whether or not the personnel involved in surveillance, sanitisation, culling and disposal are protected and quarantined, Aravind Jannu, Principal Secretary AH&VS, said, “Everything is being taken care of scientifically.”

“All the staff members involved in culling and disposing of the birds have been provided with special equipment and clothing as prescribed by the Centre and all measures are being taken,” the officer said.

He said the staff are being sanitised before and after they begin the activity and that they have all been administered a specific kind of prophylactic, a drug used to prevent spread of any disease.
About 25 rapid response teams are involved in culling and disposing of 19,235 chickens, 13,673 ducks, 369 emu birds, and sanitisation of 52 poultry sheds in the CPDO farm. No unusual death of birds has been noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the State.  http://www.deccanherald.com/content/290001/avian-flu-scare-after.html

India- Snapshots from the epicentre

Snapshots from the epicentre

Ramzauva Chhakchhuak, Nov 4, 2012

Days after the outbreak of avian flu, the Central Poultry Department Organisation (CPDO) at Hesara­ghatta has been busy culling, cleaning and sanitising its farms. On the way to the CPDO, it isn’t difficult to see how the news of the spread of the flu has affected life around the government farm. 

Chicken shops have no customers and cages and coops, usually crammed with birds, have only feathers as remnants.

A stall at Doddabilakere had only one live bird. The shop owner told Deccan Herald: “Blood samples had been taken from this particular bird and we were told not to sell it till 31st (of October).”

Sangeeta Hindu Military Hotel in the vicinity saw a high demand for mutton, pork and fish items. “There are no chickens or eggs on the menu, as of now,” said a worker at the hotel.

Visitors’ entry restricted

Almost all the gates of the CPDO were locked when Deccan Herald visited the farm. A board with the message: ‘Visitors’ entry strictly restricted. All visitors are requested to kindly co-operate’, hung from Gate 1 to 4. A huge sheet of blue tarpaulin covered Gate 5 and a guard at the main gate (2) and another at Gate 4 wore masks.

Activities going on at the CPDO were meant to be a secret. Two guards made frequent trips on their bikes around the facility to ensure nothing happening inside the farms is disturbed. The RH-3 building of the ‘Duck Unit’ inside Gate 2 had men dressed in white protection suits busy cleaning duck coops.

They were emptying the contents of the coops into gunny bags and tying them up. Next to the main gate was the ‘Turkey Unit’ and men in white suits seemed to be using a burner to sanitise the coops. ‘Officials in charge of the control and sanitation’ of the CPDO were at the site, but refused to talk or divulge details about what was going on inside the farm. 
The aftermath

A staffer at the CPDO, who did not want to be named, told Deccan Herald that 3,000 emus weighing 55 kg and costing Rs 75,000 each; two ostriches of 120 kg and Rs 1,20,000 each; 16,000 ducks and 18,000 chickens had been culled at the farm.

Burial grounds

Noisome stench pervaded the area behind the facility. Towards the northern wall of the ‘Duck Unit’, adjacent to Hesaraghatta lake, were mounds of dug-up soil. A pack of dogs surrounded the mud heaps and another spot near the end of the facility close to Gate 5. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/290000/snapshots-epicentre.html

Bangladesh-Avian influenza breaks out in Gazipur farms Over 4000 poultry birds culled

 Arafat Ara

Department of Livestock Services (DLS) culled more than 4000 poultry birds as the avian influenza has started to inject the local poultry farms in onset of winter, said officials. 

DLS control room said last week it destroyed the chickens at a poultry farm of Kapashia in Gazipur district to stall the spread of bid flu virus.

Bird flu or virus H5N1 usually breaks out in the beginning of winter and summer seasons, said poultry farm owners.

Poultry industry leaders feared if the deadly virus spreads like last year, many of the remaining farms will be out of business in coming days.

Meanwhile, the number of farms has now come down to 60,824 from 114,763 about two years ago following the havoc created by bird flu attack, according to Bangladesh Poultry Khamar Rakkha Jatiya Parishad.

Bangladesh Poultry Industries' Association (BPIA) joint secretary general Khandoker Mohsin said bird flu virus has started to spread in the local poultry farms and the authority already destroyed some chickens after detecting the disease. 

He said, "Not only one farm, I heard three big breeder farms also have been infected by the avian influenza virus but these are unreported to the DLS."

Mr Mohsin said the government has planned to start vaccination programme which is the right decision to rescue the poultry sector from being ruined.

"But the vaccine should have been introduced two or three months ago as bird flu virus had already started to infect the poultry farms," said Mr Mohsin.

"The DLS authority assured us they would launch vaccination in August last, but they have not done it," the BPIA Joint Secretary General said.

BPIA Secretary General and Virologist Monjur Murshed Khan said, minimum 21 days is necessary after vaccination for the poultry birds to develop immunity.

"So it would have been good if the authority could have started the vaccination programme two months back," Mr Khan also added.

Recently the Drug Administration authorities have given permission to import bird flu vaccine to start immunisation programme experimentally aiming to prevent the deadly virus from spreading to local poultry farms and the industry eventually.

Musaddique Hossain, Director of DLS said as they got permission to import the medicine it would be possible to begin the vaccination programme shortly.

The vaccination will begin experimentally in Gazipur district and partly in one poultry hatchery and five farms in Kishorganj in Dhaka division, said Mr Hossain also the head of a seven-member expert committee on bird flu vaccination programme.

"If we get a positive result, we will apply the medicine across the country," he added.

Bird flu or H5N1 virus first broke out in the country in 2007 when more than a million chickens were culled and thousands of small farms were closed as the flu ravaged the industry for more than six months. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMTFfMDRfMTJfMV84OF8xNDg4NjM=

avian influenza outbreak in the city of Nha Trang, Ninh Hoa and Van Ninh

On 2-11, Khanh Hoa Province has announced its decision to set up a temporary three animal quarantine stations in the town: Longevity (Van Ninh district), Cam Thinh Dong (TP Cam Ranh) and Ninh West (town Ninh Hoa) in order to control the movement of livestock and poultry in the province in the context of poultry and swine blue ear are spread on a large scale in many areas. Currently, PRRS in swine and avian influenza outbreak in the city of Nha Trang, Ninh Hoa and Van Ninh district town. Nearly 800 pigs and 2,200 poultry were destroyed. PPC had written to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development support early 10 thousand liters of disinfectant, 20 thousand doses of blue ear epidemic.

 Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee has directed the functional unit to coordinate the provincial veterinary officers to strengthen inspection and supervision, to prevent dangerous diseases in cattle and poultry. Provinces also allow additional forces to coordinate interdisciplinary veterinarian at the Animal Quarantine Station north of Quang Binh. Accordingly, in addition to the regular provincial veterinary officer core plug at the Animal Quarantine Station north of Quang Binh will be increased from four to seven.

Department of Animal Health of Hau Giang Province said, will strengthen the prevention and control of disease in livestock and poultry, in order to ensure food for the Lunar New Year. Department perform thorough vaccination for pets to prevent and combat foot and mouth disease, cholera in cattle, swine blue ear disease, avian influenza on. Duck the management be strengthened to ensure no pathogens from other places. The province direct agricultural implement environmental disinfection month in November while raising sprint to promote more effective.  http://www.nhandan.com.vn/cmlink/nhandandientu/thoisu/doi-song/i-s-ng-tin-chung/cac-t-nh-phia-b-c-tr-i-l-nh-co-m-a-rao-va-dong-1.375595

ATTENTION: If you need work, Fema needs clean up crews for South Jersey. It's $1000 for 7 days, hotel and food included. Call 904-797-5998

Mutated viruses transmitted to humans more easily

Published: Friday, Nov 2, 2012 

While the officials of animal husbandry & fisheries department are stressing on checking the spread of the avian influenza to within Hesaraghatta, experts say it is important to know the extent of mutation of the virus that affected the chickens, turkeys, ducks and emus to put in place adequate measures.

Experts say mutated viruses have a higher capacity to infect birds and humans, and even as bird to human transmission is rare, the authorities are ignorant about the capacity of a mutated virus to infect human at a faster rate than before.

“The only implication of mutation is the lack of immunity among people. This means that a mutated virus has a higher capacity of affecting many more compared to the original virus. However, whether the mutated virus would be more dangerous is debatable (in the absence of precisely knowing what the mutation is),” said Dr Hemanth HR, consultant, critical care medicine, BGS Global Hospital.

However, the doctor assures that this doesn’t call for worry as human-to-human transmission of avian flu virus is, as of now, known to be extremely rare. “Avian flu gets transmitted from bird-to-bird easily. Even a bird-to-human transmission is not uncommon, specially among people who work in the poultry,” he said.

However, scientists at High Security Animal Disease Laboratory who spoke to DNA on condition of anonymity, said as they were not able to establish the extent of mutation, it would be difficult to determine the capacity of the virus to cause human infections and also precisely how it would do that.

But there is hope. Whether the virus is mutated or not, the treatment largely remains the same. “While more people are susceptible to a mutated virus, when it comes to treatment, both the original and mutated virus are treated similarly as per anti-viral medications are concerned. However, if there are vaccines available, it will be different for original and mutated virus,” said Dr Rajeev Moger, consultant, internal medicine, Apollo Hospitals.

HSADL scientists, too, say that existing vaccines were developed using strains of the original H5N1 avian influenza virus. But the virus had much mutated after that, rendering those vaccines useless.

Moreover, while the symptoms of avian flu is similar to any other category of flues, the treatment is more or less the same for all of them.

No bird left to be culled at CPDOTI
The department of animal husbandry and fisheries deployed 15 rapid response teams for cleaning the sheds at the Central Poultry Development Organisation & Training Institute (CPDOTI) on Thursday. All the birds at CPDOTI were culled along with those which were suspected to be affected by the avian influenza virus in a one-km radius around the institute.

Surveillance work in the 10-km radius of the surveillance zone, which includes 68 villages in Hesaraghatta, is in progress. On Thursday, 74 more serum samples and 74 more cloacal samples (samples of openings to intestinal urinary and reproductive tracts) were collected and submitted to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal for investigation. http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_mutated-viruses-transmitted-to-humans-more-easily_1759321?

Fear grips Hessarghatta

By Sharadha Kalyanam - BANGALORE

02nd November 2012 11:24 AM

• Photos

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  A sanitisation team inspecting the area around the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CDPO) in Hessarghatta on Thursday. Thousands of birds were culled at the poultry farm following an outbreak of avian influenza| Nagaraj Gadekal

Bhagyalakshmi (name changed) is a tailor who lives half a kilometre away from the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) farm in Hessarghatta. She and her family used to have chicken regularly, but now they have stopped eating it following outbreak of avian influenza.

“Some disease has killed many birds in the nearby farm. That’s why poultry shops have stopped selling chicken. If we eat chicken, we may also get the disease,” Bhagyalakshmi said looking at the seven hens running around in her porch.

A day after all the birds at the CPDO farm were culled and disposed of, fear gripped the residents of Hessarghatta on Thursday. They have avoided eating chicken and eggs as a precautionary measure and are waiting for the announcement from the authorities to declare that the zone is safe.

As announced earlier by M K Aiyappa, Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban, there will be a total ban on the sale and the movement of poultry in the 10-kilometre surveillance zone around the outbreak point till November 15.

When Express visited the farm on Thursday, the people expressed worry over the possibility of contracting the avian influenza. Despite official announcements that the pandemic potential of the influenza is low, is fear looming large among the locals.

Abhilash, who works in a tissue culture laboratory near Hessarghatta, has decided to give up chicken for sometime. “All birds have been killed. But we don’t know if the place is safe for us to stay,” he said.

However, an official from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, at Hessarghatta denied that the flu was likely to be a health concern.

“There is no reason for panic as the strain of avian influenza which has affected the birds at the CPDO is not capable of causing a pandemic among people,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

Though all chicken shops in Hessarghatta remained closed, business continued as usual at Chikkabanavara and T Dasarahalli situated 11-12 km away. But the dealers said that customer turnout is pretty low as they are worried about the flu.  http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article1323678.ece?

Bird flu nodal centre notified

BANGALORE BUREAU  

The HinduSCOURING THE AREA: Authorities are now on the lookout for chicken owned by families within the 1-km radius culling zone. File photo: Harini Shibaraya

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has identified the State-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) as a nodal centre for isolation and treatment of bird flu cases, if detected.

On Thursday, an NCDC team, which is in Bangalore to oversee the State Health Department’s surveillance measures in the vicinity of the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO), visited RGICD along with the State Joint Director (Communicable Diseases) A.B. Chowdhury and other officials.

Dr. Chowdhury told The Hindu RGICD had been identified as the nodal centre for isolation and treatment of bird flu cases. “We will soon issue a notification in this regard,” he said.

RGICD Director Shashidhar Buggi, pointing out that no human case of bird flu had been detected so far, said the hospital was prepared to handle any emergency.

CULLING OVER

Meanwhile, following the culling of all birds (more than 33,000, including turkeys, chickens, emus and an ostrich) at the CPDO, where the Union government has declared an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), the cleaning of the sheds and pens were in progress, a Department of Animal Husbandry communiqué said. Surveillance work in the 10-km radius of surveillance zone is on and 74 serum samples and 74 cloacal samples have been collected and submitted to the laboratory for investigations, the release said.

LOOKOUT FOR BIRDS

Arvind Jannu, Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, said authorities were now on the lookout for chicken owned by families within the 1-km radius of CPDO, which has been declared as the culling zone. “The blood and cloacal samples collected from birds outside the CPDO premises have tested negative for H5N1. The movement of poultry and poultry products, banned to and from the 10-km surveillance zone till November 15, will be reviewed if the situation demands,” Mr. Jannu said and added that the academic calendar of the school on the CPDO campus, now closed, will be rescheduled.  http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bird-flu-nodal-centre-notified/article4057526.ece

Ebola virus found in Kalimantan’s orangutan

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya | National | Fri, November 02 2012, 4:14 PM

A- A A+

Researchers from Airlangga University’s Avian Influenza-zoonosis Research Center in Surabaya, East Java, report that they have detected evidence of Ebola virus in several orangutans in Kalimantan.

Researcher Chairil Anwar Nidom told The Jakarta Post on Friday that 65 serum samples collected from 353 healthy orangutans between December 2005 and December 2006 tested positive for Ebola virus.

“The result should be an early warning for us,” he said.

“In 2006, we collected the samples and froze them because we didn’t have an appropriate laboratory to examine them. We examined them last year,” he added.

Chairil also said that six of 353 samples tested positive for Marburg virus, the similar virus to Ebola that causes Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever.

Further examination, Chairil said, showed that 60 of 65 Ebola-tested samples were similar to the virus found in Africa. “There were only five samples that had the similarity with Ebola virus found in Asia. The other 60 were similar to the Ebola virus found in Zaire, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Bundibugyo district in Uganda,” he said.

According to Chairil, Ebola virus might still live in some of orangutans’ bodies.

“All I can say is that Ebola could be a threat to humans living in Indonesia,” he said.

The orangutan is only found in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The other great apes: gorilla, chimpanzee and bonobo live in Africa.

Chairil and his team said they would continue the research. “We are currently collecting samples from wild boars, which we suspect transmit the virus to orangutans,” he said.

Ebola virus was first detected in Congo in 1976. Sixteen people were killed in the last Ebola outbreak in Uganda this year. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/11/02/ebola-virus-found-kalimantan-s-orangutan.html?

WHO sends experts to help Uganda stop the spread of Marbug Haemorrhagic fever

WHO sends experts to help Uganda stop the spread of Marbug Haemorrhagic fever

Listen/Download

Concerted efforts are underway in Uganda to control the outbreak of the Marbug Haemorrhagic fever.

The first case of the deadly viral case was reported on October 19 in Kabale district of south western Uganda.

To date the at least 20 cases have been reported in at least five districts including the capital Kampala.

Dr Joachim Saweka WHO representative in Uganda gave UN radio's Patrick Maigua the latest regarding the outbreak.

Duration 4.27″  http://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/who-sends-experts-help-uganda-stop-spread-marbug-haemorrhagic-fever

Chinese chicken waste containing toxic residues of antibiotics

While Vietnam is cheap surplus chicken, hens discarded from China super cheap still en masse spill into the water, most likely chicken contaminated toxic waste by the use of antibiotics and drug delivery eggs. 

Chinese chicken waste imported to Vietnam (Photo: The Chi)

 

Chinese chicken waste journey to Vietnam

Talking to PV Conference implement disease prevention and control trade in livestock and poultry on 1/11 in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Thanh Son, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department (MARD) scene reported, with large growth of flocks, combined with the economic downturn continues and longer lasting stress, people still tighter spending would lead to the end of 2012 market surplus chicken. Adjectives So far this year, the number of poultry reached 330 million, an increase of 2.5% compared to the same period in 2011. Currently, the price of chicken meat is very low in northern industrial chicken prices at 29,000 - 30,000 VND / kg, the South has 25,000 - 26,000 dong.kg. With this price, farmers are holes from 2,000 - 4,000 VND / kg.

It is worth mentioning that while Vietnam is cheap surplus chicken, chicken cull chickens smuggled Chinese super cheap prices still massively smuggled into the country. Per day there are about a dozen buses carrying from 40,000 to 100,000 birds. One estimate, there were about 170,000 tons of chicken smuggled steam, this is a startling number, equal to half the number of chicken import quota of 1 year.

Gathering places layer disposed at most at the gate Chi Ma, Tan Thanh Lang Son and Mong Cai, Quang Ninh. In fact, this color is chicken feed to the farms of China, after the end of the laying cycle about 48 weeks.However, when the Vietnamese know their consumption of chicken waste, only for about 42 - 43 weeks and then fattened and sold to traders.Vietnamese traders going to take place to "collect" on a very cheap price, plus the cost of shipping only takes about 15,000 VND / kg.

After returning home, the chicken has not been consumed in a hurry that just "hiding" in the Vietnamese farm about ten days to cover the eyes of the authorities. After that, we hit the market with the label "dai chicken" but no one knows it is the Chinese chicken. For example, when on to Mong Cai, will team up to 30,000 - 35,000 VND / kg. That is not to say, if included in the poultry markets such as the market Ha Vy - Hanoi, the level will range from 65,000 to 70,000 VND / kg.

"Due to the large profits so the recruiter always despite all the tricks. If caught, they are ready to dispose of the shipment. Therefore, the case of smuggled chickens the authorities arrested just as salt neglect, "Son said.

Smuggled chickens, enter always virus

According to Van Dang Ky, Chief of Epidemiology, Department of Animal Health, the chicken cull in water will overflow control diseases, especially avian influenza. All virus groups A, B, C are widely circulated and provinces from the North Central, South. Most likely this virus comes from China, spreading from waste chicken smuggled sugar in Vietnam. By regular, ever, chicken "bald" China go to where the virus in poultry go there. This would be an incalculable danger to people and pets.

That is not to say, food safety can not be guaranteed. "Although not proven quality Chinese smuggled chicken but make sure it contains toxic residues for the Chinese to use antibiotics indiscriminately. Moreover, usually, just about 2 weeks hens injected with antibiotics once to prevent disease, the culture period longer than 1 year should be a very high amount of residual antibiotics. Not to mention, to the deep egg yolk, farmers also use food coloring industrial heavy metal impurities to mix food ... So, the Chinese do not have to eat this chicken, "Son said.

MARD also forecast, from now to the end of the year to serve the market for Chinese New Year 2013, imported chicken will also in many countries.Therefore, if the authorities do not control the illegal import of poultry, livestock will not survive. Dangerous than our country from an agricultural background to import chicken meat.

Reducing imports of Korean chicken Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this to the Korean import chicken still safe due to having no chemical residues of antibiotics. However, the Korean chicken prices so cheap that consumers still need to be noted. Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam imported more than 6.1 tons of chicken Korea, accounting for 11.7% of total chicken imports. Whole frozen chicken is entered, no head, no legs, with the price of 17,050 VND / kg. Besides, at present, a number of supermarkets has fallen in and stop selling chicken Korea.

http://dantri.com.vn/c76/s76-658006/ga-thai-trung-quoc-chua-ton-du-khang-sinh-chat-doc-hai.htm

Vietnam-Smuggled poultry worsens avian flu situation: officials

Thu, November 1, 2012

  

 Amidst concerns about the H5N1 avian flu that has spread to 32 provinces and cities, the uncontrolled smuggling of poultry form China into Vietnam has worsened the situation, say many officials.

Speaking at yesterday’s conference on combating epidemics and controlling the trade of cattle and poultry, held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Khanh Hoa province, Pham Van Dong, head of the Veterinary Department, blamed the cross-border smuggling of poultry from China for the increasing spread of avian flu. 

Illegally transporting poultry without quarantine or quality certification from China into Lang Son and Quang Ninh provinces has increased the seriousness of the avian flu situation, in which new and more dangerous virus strains have appeared.

Most provinces from Lang Son to Quang Ngai have recently suffered from such new strains, including those in the C group that are more dangerous than previous strains, causing more deaths among poultry.

Diep Kinh Tan, MARD deputy minister, said, “the results of genetic analysis of the new avian flu virus in Vietnam are similar to those made on counterpart viruses in China. That means the smuggling of poultry has not only damaged domestic traders but also brought more pathogens into Vietnam.” 

Meanwhile, the fight against cross-border smuggling faces numerous difficulties since smugglers use tracks through northern forests or around mountains, helping them avoid detection, Dong said.

This has resulted in poor performance in seizing, handling and punishing poultry smugglers, he added.

Meanwhile, health experts have confirmed that a new strain of avian flu virus that was found in China in July has appeared in Vietnam.

The new strain, 2.3.2.1 C, which has been detected through epidemic investigations, is highly toxic and therefore extremely deadly, Tan said.

The 2.3.2.1 C strain has recently spread to Vietnam and is now present in many provinces and cities, including Hai Phong, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai, said the Veterinary Department.

As the new strain is different from the A/H5N1 virus, the ministry has pushed to conduct experiments and tests to confirm if the vaccines that are being used to combat A/H5N1 are also effective against the new strain.

So far this year 616,000 poultry have either been culled or died due to the avian flu in 32 provinces and cities.

In Quang Binh, the provincial Veterinary Department said it would destroy 7,300 chickens and ducks that were carried without documents in a truck on National Highway 1 yesterday. http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/society/smuggled-poultry-worsens-avian-flu-situation-officials-1.90722

Mutating virus calls for more changes

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Hong Kong is likely to change its bird flu vaccine for poultry more regularly, as the H5N1 virus keeps on mutating, according to veterinarian and epidemiologist Howard Wong Kai-hay.
Wong helped test the mainland-developed Re-5 vaccine on two Hong Kong farms in early November 2010. The government has decided to use its latest version, the Re-6, from later this month in the fight against bird flu.
"Re-5 and Re-6 are identical apart from the fact that the antigen, the viral seed, is different," Wong said.
"In terms of its production and quality control all that is basically the same. Like the human flu vaccine, you just change the seed each year to match the strain."

Since 2003, Hong Kong has been using the Intervet Nobilis H5N2 vaccine against H5N1 in poultry, as part of bird flu prevention measures.
"Almost 10 years down the line the virus has changed quite a lot," Wong said.
The Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in the mainland developed the Re-5 vaccine three years ago and earlier this year came up with an updated version, Re-6, he said.
The Intervet vaccine's effectiveness is becoming less effective as the virus mutates.
The Re-6 vaccinewill be used at Hong Kong's 30 chicken farms.
Some 1.2 million chickens produced at the farms in three-month cycles will have to be vaccinated at eight days old and then a month later.
"They will be then be bloodtested before sending to the market to ensure that their antibody levels are sufficiently high to protect them," Wong said.
The first batch of poultry vaccinated with Re-6 will be ready for the Lunar New Year.
H5N1 first hit Hong Kong in 1997, killing six out of 18 people infected.
 MARY ANN BENITEZ
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=127891&sid=38078938&con_type=1&d_str=20121101&fc=7

Culling of birds still on to stop disease spread

Published: Thursday, Nov 1, 2012, 15:49 IST 

Scientists and workers at the Central Poultry Development Organisation & Training Institute (CPDOTI) in Hsaraghatta near Bangalore on Wednesday have culled an ostrich along with 13,342 ducks 369 emus and destroyed 11,939 eggs.

In an intensified effort to check the spread of the disease to within Hesaraghatta at least 25 rapid response teams have so far also culled 19,235 chickens at the poultry unit as per the revised action plan-2012 guidelines of Government of India.

The sanitisation process of the sheds and pens in which these diseased birds were were housed is in progress, according to a statement issued by Aravinda Ramachandra Jannu, principal secretary, animal husbandry & fisheries department.

Surveillance work in 10-km radius of surveillance zone is in progress and the teams have so far collected 119 serum samples and 119 cloacal samples (samples of opening to intestinal, reproductive and urinary tracts) and submitted them for laboratory investigations. However, no unusual death in birds has been noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the State.

The measures also included declaring an area of 1-km radius around as a sanitised zones in which all the birds were planned to be culled. The Centre had confirmed the outbreak of avian influenza at CPDOTI on October 25 when animal husbandry minister Revu Naik Belamagi announced that 3,481 turkeys had died to to the avian flu over the past few weeks which forced the officials to cull 784 others.

Subsequently, 206 deaths among te chicken at the poultry unit and 17 ducks in the duck unit caused more concern, forcing the department officials to send 50 serum and 41 cloacal samples to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal on Sunday, which returned the results the very next day stating that they had tested positive for avian influenza.

Although there is a rapid spread of the disease among the birds, so far there has not been a single case of human infection detected. However, CPDOTI and animal husbandry department officials are yet to be informed about the precise nature of the H5N1 virus that is suspected to have infected the birds. HSADL in Bhopal has not been able to identify whether the virus has been mutated and to what extent.

Considering the rapid spread of the disease among the birds, CPDOTI experts are sure that it is a virus which has high pathogenicity (the power to spread infection).

Over the years, experts globally have learnt that more the mutations in the H5N1 virus, higher is its capability to result in infections in the human populations living in the vicinity of the epicenter of the outbreak.

Keeping vigil
Surveillance is on in 10-km radius of the area and rapid response teams have so far collected 119 serum samples and 119 cloacal samples and submitted them for laboratory investigation.

Experts debunk migratory birds theory  

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_culling-of-birds-still-on-to-stop-disease-spread_1758890

NIV braces for bird flu outbreak in state

 Fri Nov 02 2012, 01:12 hrs

The recent death of 3,000 turkeys and other birds at Hesaraghatta near Bangalore has put NIV on alert to brace for an avian flu (H5N1) epidemic. “The Centre has requested us to pitch in with help in case there is any outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra and Gujarat,” NIV director Dr A C Mishra told Newsline This is a lethal virus and has been gaining a stronghold in the country. There have been outbreaks earlier in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Avian influenza surveillance measures are in place and so far there has been no threat to humans, Mishra assured.  http://www.indianexpress.com/news/niv-braces-for-bird-flu-outbreak-in-state/1025433/

India-All birds culled, eggs destroyed at unit

All birds culled, eggs destroyed at unit

BANGALORE BUREAU

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Zilla panchayat worries about unreported instances of bird flu

Culling of all birds and disposal of poultry eggs at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO), where the Union government has notified the outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1), were completed on Wednesday. This comes amidst worry expressed by elected representatives at the Bangalore Rural Zilla Panchayat meeting over the spread of the disease to neighbouring areas because of possible unscientific disposal of birds.

Big numbers

Over 33,000 birds, including an ostrich, 369 emus, 13,342 ducks and 19,235 chickens housed at CPDO have been culled since Tuesday as directed by the Union government. Some 700 turkeys also have been culled after 3,600 died of the influenza.

Sanitisation of the 52 sheds and pens within the CPDO is still on even as the source of the outbreak remains elusive.

Overcome by emotion

“All birds have been culled and disposed of. We will make a new beginning and a fresh set of birds will be brought after 90 days,” a senior CPDO official told The Hindu . “It was difficult for us to cull the birds [as we have been rearing them],” the official added, his voice choking with emotion.

A team from the National Centre for Disease Control visited the Hesaraghatta farm on Wednesday to ascertain whether the health protocol for CPDO employees was in place, particularly administering anti-viral drugs.

Arvind Jannu, Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, said no unusual death of birds has been noticed so far, and authorities were monitoring the situation. There is some anxiety over the wet weather triggered by Cyclone Nilam. Even as the authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak, veterinary doctors warn that the rain could help spread the highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Random permissions

Meanwhile, people in parts of Bangalore Rural district adjoining Hesaraghatta are tense about the spread of the flu, considering the district has a large number of privately owned poultry farms.

In a heated discussion at the Bangalore Rural Zilla Panchayat meeting on Wednesday, member M.N. Ram said there were about 1,500 private poultry farms which are not being closely monitored. He claimed private poultry owners dumped dead birds on National Highway 4, sending those living in the vicinity into a flap.

“Permission to open these farms is given by the gram panchayats. There is no coordination between them and the Health Department. So accountability is not fixed,” said Mr. Ram.

Though veterinary officials sought to allay fears saying that there were no reported cases of the disease in Bangalore Rural district, it didn’t help as members pointed out there were not enough pre-emptive measures in place.

Though there was a rule that a poultry farm could not be opened within a 100-metre radius of any habitation, there are instances of gram panchayats flouting it in return for a hefty fee. “Even the fee amount is not fixed and each gram panchayat charges at its own whim,” Mr. Ram said.

To this Mr. Jannu conceded that if birds are disposed of clandestinely, the government would not be any wiser. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/all-birds-culled-eggs-destroyed-at-unit/article4052908.ece?textsize=large&test=1

Vietam not Handling the avian outbreak, cattle

Handling the avian outbreak, cattle
Friday, 11.02.2012, 01:35 (GMT +7)
(SGGP). - On 1-11, the conference implementation of disease prevention and control trade in cattle, poultry and the South East and the Mekong Delta by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held in Ho Chi Minh City , Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan stressed that from now until the beginning of 2013 was a period of disease of cattle and poultry conditions appear, spread; especially H5N1, fairly complex evolution. So, the local is not subjective, they appear to focus on treatment, not to spread causing huge damage. Particularly in the Mekong Delta to continue vaccination vaccine, so this approach is effective, no ramifications virus as in central and northern.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Animal Husbandry, from now until the end of the year, monthly import 10,000 - 13,000 tons of meat, mainly chicken, two times the average monthly imports nine months. Due to weak purchasing power, the price of meat in the last months have only increased by 8% - 10%.

In addition, the amount of waste chicken smuggled into Vietnam via border surge. From 70,000 to 100,000 tons of poultry smuggled into Vietnam, nearly 50% of imported meat this year, increasing the risk of infectious diseases of poultry in the country, due to highly pathogenic viruses, causing rapid death .  http://www.sggp.org.vn/ytesuckhoe/2012/11/303121/

Vietnam-Chinese chicken waste flooding the market

Thursday, 11/01/2012 21:26

Chicken waste from China into Vietnam Where to bird flu virus is spreading to it

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recently held conference "Implementation of disease prevention and control of trafficking in cattle, poultry and the South East and the Mekong Delta" on May 1-11 in Ho Chi Minh City. 

... According to information provided from the conference, chicken smuggled from China to where avian influenza viruses are new to it so the evolution of avian diseases in our country today is very complex.Rising epidemic in 2012; communes, districts poultry increased 2-3 times compared to the previous year. Bird deaths also increased sharply. Avian influenza also occurs scattered in the High Consul Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau ... Translate nearly "coverage" nationwide.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son fears of disease increase, imported frozen meat products for many farmers in the country will suffer heavy losses. Therefore, producers will cut production lead to lack of cattle and poultry for Tet market. Currently, the price of pork, chicken are below cost, while continuous feed prices should not encourage breeding.  http://nld.com.vn/20121101091229972p0c1042/ga-thai-trung-quoc-tran-ngap-thi-truong.htm

Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda – update (29 October 2012)

31 October 2012 - As of 29 October 2012, a total of 19 cases and 9 deaths have been reported from 5 districts namely Kabale district, in south-western Uganda, Kampala (the capital city), Ibanda, Mbarara and Kabarole. The case fatality rate is 47.4%. The outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Health in Uganda on 19 October 2012. One of the 9 deaths reported is a health worker.

Currently, 13 patients have been admitted to hospital (2 in Kampala, 8 in Kabale, 3 in Ibanda) and their contacts are listed for daily follow up. The latest confirmed case was admitted to Ibanda district isolation ward on 26 October 2012.

Blood samples from 9 cases have been confirmed for Marburg virus at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). 

The World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners including, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Uganda Red Cross (URCS), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Médecins-Sans-Frontières (MSF) are supporting the national authorities in outbreak investigation and response.  The national task force has identified additional health care workers and epidemiologists to strengthen the teams in the field. Training of health workers on infection prevention and control, surveillance and clinical case management is ongoing.  Social mobilization is ongoing including the dissemination of IEC (Information Education Communication) material, sensitization on Marburg preventions and control and broadcast of information through radio channels. The first shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by WHO arrived over the weekend. 

The WHO Regional office has deployed an epidemiologist and a logistician to Uganda to support the response teams on the ground. In addition, a social mobilization expert from WHO Zambia Country Office and a logistician from the Regional Rapid Response Team network have been mobilized for immediate deployment. More experts are being identified by the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). 

As the investigation into the outbreak continues, WHO and partners continue to support the national authorities as needed in the areas of coordination, infection prevention and control, surveillance, epidemiology, public information and social mobilization, anthropological analysis and logistics for outbreak response.

Neighbouring countries have been contacted to strengthen cross border surveillance and preparedness to prevent cross border spread of the outbreak. 

WHO advises that there is no need for any restrictions on travel or trade with Uganda.

For more information

• WHO Marburg haemorrhagic fever website  http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters-a-programmes/dpc/epidemic-a-pandemic-alert-and-response/outbreak-news/3720-marburg-haemorrhagic-fever-in-uganda--update-29-october-2012.html

India-25 teams culling and disposing of birds

TNN | Oct 30, 2012, 04.20AM IST

BANGALORE: Ten teams are involved insurveillance work in the 10-km-wide affected zone around the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO) at Hesaraghatta. "Twenty-five rapid response teams are involved in the culling and disposal of the birds on the CPDO farm," says Aravind Jannu, principal secretary, animal husbandry department.

A school on the CDPO premises has been closed for 15 days, the official said.

Last week, an action plan was activated in the CPDO farm and its vicinity after tests confirmed that 3,481 turkeys had died of avian flu in the institute. About 800 turkeys were later culled.

An alert was sounded in 68 villages within 10 km of Hesaraghatta. About 1.5 lakh poultry birds are housed in the commercial and private farms in these villages.

The forest department has been alerted about the situation and directed to take up surveillance of stray, wild and migratory birds.  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/25-teams-culling-and-disposing-of-birds/articleshow/17012911.cms

India-Culling begins, State government bans movement of poultry

..Surveillance work

Six teams, involved in the surveillance work, collected 175 samples in the surveillance zone on Tuesday. No unnatural deaths of birds were noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the State, a department communiqué said.

Mr. Jannu said the source of the outbreak was yet to be ascertained, and currently the Government was working towards containing the spread of the flu.

On the ban of poultry movement from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, he said: “The commercial aspect of the ban can be dealt with later. We don’t want the virus to cross into the civilian areas, which can cause much more damage than the current ban by neighbouring States.”..

No human case

Health Department sources said no case of H5N1 among humans had been reported in the State so far. “While workers in the CPDO were being screened on a daily basis, villagers in the surveillance zone are being screened regularly,” an official said..

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/culling-begins-state-government-bans-movement-of-poultry/article4049983.ece

Egypt-Veterinary Bank": the declaration of a state of "emergency" to combat bird flu

 

Sources Directorate Medicine Veterinary province Western declare a state of emergency and begin launching campaigns veterinary various farms poultry , fearing the spread or discover spots pandemic flu birds after the emergence of foci in the provinces face nautical neighboring province. ordered Dr. Wafik star Prime Directorate Medicine Veterinary Gharbiya forming teams of veterinary services in conjunction with local units to take samples from birds farms for analysis to make sure they are free of the disease in anticipation of the emergence of foci of infected avian influenza. comes these procedures result of the emergence of hotbeds infected in some neighboring provinces and the death of the amount of chicken in one farm Governorate Dakahlia and also the emergence of foci of many one centers province Menoufia and Dakahlia and Kfraheik causing the deaths of 

thousands of birds heads.

http://www.el-balad.com/300220