H5N1

ECDC surveillance report: Avian influenza overview November 2018 - February 2019

ECDC has published Surveillance report: Avian influenza overview November 2018 - February 2019. The executive summary:

No human infections due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) or A(H5N6) viruses - detected in wild birds and poultry outbreaks in Europe - have been reported so far and the risk of zoonotic transmission to the general public in Europe is considered very low. Between 16 November 2018 and 15 February 2019, two HPAI A(H5N8) outbreaks in poultry establishments in Bulgaria, two HPAI A(H5N6) outbreaks in wild birds in Denmark and one low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) A(H5N3) in captive birds in the Netherlands were reported in the European Union (EU). 

Genetic characterisation of the HPAI A(H5N6) viruses reveals that they cluster with the A(H5N6) viruses that have been circulating in Europe since December 2017. The wild bird species involved were birds of prey and were likely infected due to hunting or scavenging infected wild waterfowl. However, HPAI virus was not detected in other wild birds during this period. 

Outside the EU, two HPAI outbreaks were reported in poultry during the reporting period from western Russia. Sequence information on an HPAI A(H5N6) virus found in a common gull in western Russia in October 2018 suggests that the virus clusters within clade 2.3.4.4c and is closely related to viruses that transmitted zoonotically in China. An increasing number of outbreaks in poultry and wild birds in Asia, Africa and the Middle East was observed during the time period for this report. 

Currently there is no evidence of a new HPAI virus incursion from Asia into Europe. However, passive surveillance systems may not be sensitive enough if the prevalence or case fatality in wild birds is very low. Nevertheless, it is important to encourage and maintain a certain level of passive surveillance in Europe testing single sick or dead wild birds and birds of prey as they may be sensitive sentinel species for the presence of HPAI virus in the environment. 

A well-targeted active surveillance might complement passive surveillance to collect information on HPAI infectious status of apparently healthy wild bird populations. 

Coston: Outbreaks of HPAI H5 increase to 42 across France

Via his blog Avian Flu Diary, Mike Coston writes: French MOA: Outbreaks Of HPAI H5 Increase To 42 In 6 Departments. Excerpt:

The French MOA published late yesterday afternoon an update showing that since Wednesday's update, 12 additional HPAI outbreaks have been recorded, and a new Department (Hautes-Pyrénées) is the sixth to be affected. 

These MOA updates are only reporting HPAI events, and as of several days ago we knew of at least seven additional LPAI H5 (N2 and N3) outbreaks. There are likely others by now. 

The subtype for most of these new outbreaks are still pending, and they are simply described as HPAI H5. As mentioned yesterday, scant information regarding the lineage or origin of these newly emerging flu strains has been released other than they are of `European Origin', and both the WHO and DEFRA are awaiting additional details.

France reports outbreaks of low-pathogenic H5N3 bird flu - OIE

Via Thomson Reuters: France reported outbreaks of low-pathogenic H5N3 bird flu - OIE.

France reported three outbreaks of low pathogenic H5N3 bird flu in three farms in the southwestern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on its website on Wednesday, citing the French agriculture ministry. 

The report did not detail in which type of birds the disease was found but said the virus was detected in samples taken as part of national surveillance and during animal movements. 

Two outbreaks were found in the Landes department and one in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques. 

France, the European Union's largest agriculture producer, has been facing cases of bird flu since late last month involving three highly pathogenic strains H5N1, H5N2 and H5N9. 

The French farm minister said on Monday these strains had no risk of spreading to humans.

Mike Coston at Avian Flu Diary has an earlier version of the story (H5N3 has just been identified), and helpful background.

CIDRAP: Avian flu in South Korea, Taiwan prompts massive culling

Via CIDRAP, Robert Roos writes: Avian flu in South Korea, Taiwan prompts massive culling. Click through for the full report, which includes outbreaks in Vietnam and Germany as well. Excerpt:

South Korea and Taiwan have destroyed more than 2.7 million poultry in recent weeks and months in efforts to halt highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks of the H5N8 and H5N2 varieties, according to reports posted yesterday by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). 

In addition, South Vietnam has reported another H5N1 avian flu outbreak, and low-pathogenicity avian flu (LPAI) H7N7 recently struck a turkey farm in Germany, according to media and OIE reports. 

The latest outbreaks prolong a string of avian flu episodes that have surfaced this winter in Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa. Last week the World Health Organization said the diversity and geographic extent of recent avian flu outbreaks are greater than at any time since the debut of modern surveillance methods. 

South Korea cites 65 H5N8 outbreaks 

A South Korean report posted by the OIE yesterday describes 65 H5N8 outbreaks dating all the way from late last September to late January and involving about 2.6 million poultry. The report profiles 22 stand-alone outbreaks and "outbreak clusters" including from 2 to 13 individual incidents. 

The affected sites had a total of 2,589,062 birds, including ducks, chickens, geese, and doves. Only 177 cases, all fatal, were reported, but all the rest of the birds were destroyed to stop the virus. Most of the outbreaks were in the southwest and northwest of the country, with a few in the southeast, according to a map in the report. 

South Korea had widespread H5N8 outbreaks in January and February of 2014, followed by isolated outbreaks in June and July.

Third bird flu strain identified in Taiwan outbreak

Via the Bangkok Post, a Kyodo report: 3rd bird flu strain identified in Taiwan outbreak. Excerpt:

A third highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza that is new to Taiwan was identified Friday as outbreaks of bird flu have spread to more poultry farms on the island, animal health authorities said Friday.  

Chang Su-san, director general of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, told a press conference that birds on 101 goose, duck and chicken farms in northern, central and southern parts of the island have been confirmed to be infected with the H5N2, H5N8 or H5N3 subtypes of bird flu virus.  

Tsai Hsiang-jung, director general of the Animal Health Research Institute under the Cabinet's Council of Agriculture, said DNA sequencing indicates it is a hybrid of an N3 strain responsible for the outbreaks Thailand in 2012, in Mongolia in 2010,  and Kaohsiung last year, and an H5 strain responsible for outbreaks among poultry in South Korea last year. 

The new strain - H5N3 - was found at two goose farms in Kaohsiung and Pingung, both in southern Taiwan, marking the first time for the strain to be identified in Taiwan. 

The new H5N2 strain has so far only been found in Taiwan. DNA sequencing indicates it is a hybrid of an H5N2 strain that was responsible for outbreaks among poultry in South Korea last year and China in 2011. 

Human transmission has not been reported. 

As for the H5N8 subtype, the latest bird flu outbreaks mark the first time for it to be identified in Taiwan. Outbreaks among poultry were reported in Europe, South Korea, China and Japan last year. It is believed to pose little or no risk to humans. 

Authorities indicated that the viruses may have been carried to Taiwan by migratory birds.

Coston: Bird flu reports from India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan

On his blog Avian Flu Diary, Mike Coston writes: Bird Flu Reports From India, Japan, Korea & Taiwan. This is the kind of post that makes him one of the best in Flublogia: informative and documented, putting his subject in perspective. Excerpt: 

Between 2004 and 2007 the H5N1 avian flu virus expanded its range, going from basically being a problem for a handful of Southeast Asian countries, to being a problem for much of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.  We saw huge wild bird die offs in China, Indonesia, and Eastern Europe, along with thousands of poultry infestations and culling operations.     

Along the way, several hundred humans were infected as well.   

In 2008, H5N1’s expansion seemed to halt, and in many places the virus actually receded, leaving behind about a dozen places around the world where the virus remained entrenched. Among them were Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China. 

Even in these countries, the number of outbreaks reported – and the number of human infections – dropped markedly, with the peak reached in 2006 (n=115) and steadily dropping since then (2013= 39 cases). The foci of infections also shifted away from Vietnam and Indonesia towards Egypt and Cambodia. 

While never quite going away, it seemed as if the avian flu threat was simply fading away.

That is, until a new avian flu virus – H7N9 – appeared abruptly in China in the spring of 2013 sparking two consecutive winter epidemics, and is expected to return again this winter as well.  In quick succession, several more avian flu viruses appeared – including H5N8 in Korea (now spread to Europe & Japan), H5N6 in China and Vietnam, H5N3 in China, and H10N8 in China.   

Now, instead of one avian flu threat, we have anywhere from three to six to keep track of (H5N1, H7N9, H5N8, H5N6, H5N3, H10N8), and no one should be terribly surprised if several more novel reassortants emerge over the next couple of years. 

Taiwan reports first occurrence of H5N3 bird flu

Via Focus Taiwan, a CNA report: Taiwan reports first occurrence of H5N3 bird flu.

An outbreak of low pathogenic H5N3 avian influenza has been detected on a duck farm in the eastern county of Hualien, the first occurrence of the virus strain in Taiwan. 

The virus was isolated from swabs taken from the farm July 16 and confirmed by the national laboratory Aug. 2, according to a report submitted by the Council of Agriculture to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) that same day. 

Twenty of the 13,400 ducks on the farm tested positive for the virus, the report said. 

The results of a clinical investigation showed that the ducks were healthy and without clinical signs or abnormal mortality, it said, adding that surveillance of poultry farms around the H5N3-affected farm is being conducted.

Mike Coston at Avian Flu Diary has a post on this outbreak, with some very useful background.