H5N1

Russia reports world's first case of human infection with H5N8 bird flu

Via Reuters: Russia reports world's first case of human infection with H5N8 bird flu.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has registered the first case of a strain of bird flu virus named A(H5N8) being passed to humans from birds and has reported the matter to the World Health Organization (WHO), Anna Popova, head of consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, said on Saturday. 

Outbreaks of the H5N8 strain have been reported in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East and North Africa in recent months but only in poultry. Other strains - H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2 - have been known here) to spread to humans. 

Russia reported the case of human infection to the WHO “several days ago, just as we became absolutely certain of our results,” Popova said on Rossiya 24 state TV. There was no sign of transmission between humans so far, she added. 

The majority of human bird flu infections have been associated with direct contact with infected live or dead poultry, though properly cooked food is considered to be safe. 

Bird flu outbreaks often prompt poultry plants to kill their birds to prevent the virus from spreading, and avoid importing countries having to impose trade restrictions. 

The vast majority of cases are spread by migrating wild birds, so producing countries tend to keep their poultry indoors or protected from contact with wildlife. 

Seven workers at a poultry plant in Russia’s south had been infected with the H5N8 strain when there was an outbreak at the plant in December, Popova said, adding that the individuals involved felt fine now. 

“This situation did not develop further,” she added. 

Siberia’s Vector Institute said on Saturday it would start developing human tests and a vaccine against H5N8, RIA news agency reported. 

The WHO did not reply to a Reuters request for comment.

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. 

Branswell: What happened to bird flu?

Via STAT, Helen Branswell brings back memories: What happened to bird flu? How a threat to human health faded from view. Excerpt from a very good article:

Just over a dozen years ago, a bird flu virus known as H5N1 was charting a destructive course through Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, ravaging poultry in apocryphal numbers and killing 6 in 10 humans known to have contracted it. 

The overall human death toll was low — in the hundreds — but scientists and government officials feared that the virus could ignite a human pandemic reminiscent of the catastrophic 1918 Spanish flu. Emergency plans were drafted, experimental H5N1 vaccines were created and tested, antiviral drugs were stockpiled. 

And then … nothing happened.

The virus continued to kill chickens and to occasionally infect and sometimes kill people. But as the years passed, the number of human H5N1 cases subsided. There has not been a single H5N1 human infection detected since February 2017.  

This is the good news. The bad news is that the situation could change in an instant. Related: How live animal markets create a perfect storm for bird flu 

“We don’t know how the story’s going to end,” warned Nancy Cox, who retired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in late 2014 after leading its influenza operations for more than two decades. 

It’s not just H5N1 that has dissipated. The virus’s nearly-as-scary cousin, H7N9, emerged in China in 2013 and sickened more than 1,500 people in China over five years, killing roughly 40 percent of them. 

But after an extraordinary surge of cases — 766 — in early 2017, there were a mere three infections recorded in 2018. So far in 2019 there have been none.  

Although there are ways to make sense of H7N9’s decline, no one knows precisely why H5N1 has faded from view.  

“There are things that occur with influenza that don’t quite add up completely,” Cox admitted.  

Scientists do know the H5N1 viruses have mutated in ways that may be important to their ability to interact with people. Several years ago, these viruses effectively splintered, with some dumping their N1 neuraminidase — a gene that produces a key protein found on the surface of flu viruses — and replacing it with another. The process is called reassortment, and, in this case, it resulted in the emergence of a lot of new pairings over a fairly short period of time.  

The most common and most dangerous viruses to emerge — for birds at least — have been H5N6 and H5N8 viruses. Both are highly pathogenic, meaning they kill domestic poultry. 

“The H5N1 virus has not gone away. It’s just changed into different versions of itself,” explained influenza expert Malik Peiris, a professor of virology at the University of Hong Kong. “We don’t know how the story’s going to end.”  

Peiris suggested it might be a mistake to see the evolution of the virus as nothing but a positive development.  

“It is good news, the fact that overall the H5N1 problems have reduced,” he said. “But you know, you can look at it the other way around. So now we have two high pathogenic [H5] viruses kicking around.”

ECDC surveillance report: Avian influenza overview May – August 2018

ECDC has published Surveillance report: Avian influenza overview May – August 2018. The executive summary:

Between 16 May and 15 August 2018, three highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) outbreaks in poultry establishments and three HPAI A(H5N6) outbreaks in wild birds were reported in Europe. Three low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) outbreaks were reported in three Member States. Few HPAI and LPAI bird cases have been detected in this period of the year, in accordance with the seasonal expected pattern of LPAI and HPAI. 

There is no evidence to date that HPAI A(H5N8) and A(H5N6) viruses circulating in Europe have caused any human infections. The risk of zoonotic transmission to the general public in Europe is considered to be very low. 

Several HPAI outbreaks in poultry were reported during this period from Russia. The presence of the A(H5N2) and A(H5N8) viruses in parts of Russia connected with fall migration routes of wild birds is of concern for possible introduction and spread with wild birds migrating to the EU. 

Although few AI outbreaks were observed in Africa, Asia and the Middle East during the reporting period, the probability of AI virus introductions from non-EU countries via wild birds particularly via the north-eastern route from Russia is increasing, as the fall migration of wild birds will start in the coming weeks. Further, the lower temperatures in autumn and winter may facilitate the environmental survival of avian influenza viruses potentially introduced to Europe. 

Circulation of influenza A(H5N8) Virus, Saudi Arabia

Via Emerging Infectious Diseases: Ahead of Print -Circulation of Influenza A(H5N8) Virus, Saudi Arabia. The abstract:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses have been detected in several continents. However, limited viral sequence data is available from countries in the Middle East. We report full-genome analyses of highly pathogenic H5N8 viruses recently detected in different provinces in Saudi Arabia.

Eurosurveillance: Spatio-temporal patterns of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N8 spread, France, 2016 to 2017

Eurosurveillance has published Spatio-temporal patterns of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N8 spread, France, 2016 to 2017. The abstract:

Introduction 

France is one of Europe’s foremost poultry producers and the world’s fifth largest producer of poultry meat. In November 2016, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N8 emerged in poultry in the country. As of 23 March 2017, a total of 484 confirmed outbreaks were reported, with consequences on animal health and socio-economic impacts for producers. 

Methods: 

We examined the spatio-temporal distribution of outbreaks that occurred in France between November 2016 and March 2017, using the space–time K-function and space–time permutation model of the scan statistic test. 

Results: 

Most outbreaks affected duck flocks in south-west France. A significant space–time interaction of outbreaks was present at the beginning of the epidemic within a window of 8 km and 13 days. This interaction disappeared towards the epidemic end. Five spatio-temporal outbreak clusters were identified in the main poultry producing areas, moving sequentially from east to west. The average spread rate of the epidemic front wave was estimated to be 5.5 km/week. It increased from February 2017 and was negatively associated with the duck holding density. 

Conclusion: 

HPAI-H5N8 infections varied over time and space in France. Intense transmission events occurred at the early stages of the epidemic, followed by long-range jumps in the disease spread towards its end. Findings support strict control strategies in poultry production as well as the maintenance of high biosecurity standards for poultry holdings. Factors and mechanisms driving HPAI spread need to be further investigated.

No cases of H5N8 avian flu recorded in Saudi Arabia (in the past 24 hours)

Via Arab News: No cases of H5N8 avian flu recorded in Saudi Arabia.

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture on Sunday announced that no cases of H5N8 avian flu have been recorded in the Kingdom in the past 24 hours.  

In its daily briefing, the ministry affirmed that the number of samples collected from the Kingdom’s regions since the beginning of the spread of the disease reached 14,096. The results disclosed that 182 of these samples tested positive. As many as 5,182 birds were culled in the past 24 hours ending Sunday.   

Bird flu strains have hit poultry flocks in a number of countries across the world in recent years, with some types of the disease also causing human infections and deaths.  

H5N8 is highly pathogenic to birds (high death rates) and was first discovered in Ireland in 1983. Since then it has been reported in numerous locations around the world. 

This strain, however, has not caused any human infections so far anywhere in the world.

Two cases of H5N8 avian flu recorded in Saudi Arabia

Via Arab News, an April 2 report: Two cases of H5N8 avian flu recorded in Saudi Arabia. Presumably these cases were found in wild birds, but the story doesn't say what kind of birds carried the virus.

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture on Sunday announced detection of two cases of H5N8 avian flu in Al-Kharj governorate, reported the Saudi Press Agency. 

Saudi authorities are actively taking measures to contain the virus. In its daily briefing, the ministry affirmed that the number of samples collected from different parts of the Kingdom since the first case was reported reached 12, 829. Out of the samples, only 171 were tested positive for the virus. 

Bird flu strains have hit poultry flocks in a number of countries across the world in recent years, with some types of the disease also causing human infections and deaths. 

H5N8 is highly pathogenic to birds (high death rates) and was first discovered in Ireland in 1983. Since then it has been reported in numerous locations around the world. 

This strain, however, has not caused any human infections so far anywhere in the world. 

According to an Arab News report published in January, the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) enforced a ban on the hunting of migratory birds to help prevent avian influenza. 

The migratory birds include houbara bustards, passerines, flamingos, pelicans, cranes and turtle doves. 

They temporarily stay mainly in Al-Hair in Riyadh, Al-Asfar Lake, Jubail Marine Protected Area, Domat Al-Jandal in Al-Jouf, Farasan Islands and Wadi Aljizan. They will leave at the start of spring.

Avian flu freezes coastal bird research in South Africa

Via Nature News & Comment: Avian flu freezes coastal bird research in South Africa. Excerpt:

Scientists have been banned from handling seabirds in South African coastal colonies, as authorities race to quell an avian-flu outbreak that is threatening endangered species. 

On 23 March, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs announced that it would be halting research activities for fear of unintentionally spreading the infection to other bird colonies. Researchers say that the move is unprecedented, but they see no other way to protect birds. The moratorium will remain in place until 1 June, with a re-evaluation scheduled for mid-May.  

“On balance, it’s a reasonable measure to take, given the scale of the problem,” says Peter Ryan, director of the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology in Cape Town. “We don’t want to exacerbate it — our birds have enough of a problem as it is.”  

In February, veterinarians detected H5N8 avian influenza virus in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) at Boulders Beach in the Western Cape. The African penguin is classified as endangered, and is one of a number of wild bird species affected. Others afflicted include terns, Cape cormorants (Phalacrocorax capensis) and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus). Although the virus is highly pathogenic to chickens and other poultry, its impact on wild seabirds is not yet well understood, according to a statement released at the time by the national-parks authority. 

Early action  

Avian-influenza outbreaks aren’t unheard of in South Africa, and wildlife officials are still determining the scale of the current epidemic. Fewer than 100 birds have tested positive for the virus so far, says Lauren Waller, an avian specialist with the government-supported conservation organization CapeNature in Cape Town. Of the birds affected, the swift tern (Thalasseus bergii) has been hit hardest. Just 14 African penguins from 9 sites have tested positive, she adds. 

Avian flu circulates in seabirds and wildlife officials cannot keep outbreaks from emerging, says Andrew de Blocq, a Cape Town-based coastal-seabird conservation officer with Birdlife South Africa. “What you can do, as they’ve done, is take steps to prevent it moving around artificially.”

Bulgaria reports outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu

Via Reuters: Bulgaria reports outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu. Excerpt:

Bulgaria has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu virus on a farm in the northeastern district of Dobrich, the national food safety agency said on Monday.  

The virus, found on a farm in the town of General Toshevo, located near the border with Romania, would lead to the death of 140,000 birds, the agency said.  

“A three-kilometer protection zone and a 10-km observation area around the livestock area were set up,” the agency said in a statement, adding that a ban on the trade and movement of domestic, wild and other birds and trade in eggs, had been imposed.  

The Balkan country has also registered four cases of bird flu since October.