Since mid-August, new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry have been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) from the veterinary authorities in Togo, Ghana and China.
African countries continue to battle avian flu
The West African state of Togo has reported to the OIE its first outbreak of HPAI since January of 2009. More than 14,000 birds at 2 farms described as “semi-modern” in the Maritime Region were affected, with 11,300 birds dying from the disease- later confirmed as H5N1 – and over 3,000 more birds have been destroyed.
Two backyards flocks and two poultry farms in Ghana have been hit by H5N1 HPAI, according to the official report to the OIE. At the premises – 3 in Greater Accra and 1 in Central state – 1,442 adult chickens and pullets died and a further 936 have been destroyed.
Following a two-year battle against low pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza by the South African commercial ostrich sector, birds at one more farm in Western Cape Province have tested positive for the virus, without showing any clinical symptoms.
There is some good news from Nigeria, which has suffered a number of outbreaks of HPAI. According to a report in All Africa, restocking has begun at Premium Poultry Farms. Located near Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory, this was one of the country’s largest egg producers, and it lost all its 600,000 birds to HPAI. After disinfection and closure for 6 months, the farm has received its first 180,000 birds and it hopes to return to full production by February of 2017. Also starting up again is the company’s own feed mill, which has a capacity of 8 metric tons per hour.
With more than 40 outbreaks, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has been battling HPAI since May 2015. With its last confirmed outbreak in early July this year, the veterinary authority has reported to the OIE that cleaning and disinfection of poultry farms have been completed and production has resumed.
There have been no new reports of HPAI outbreaks in poultry in Cameroon, where 17 premises have been confirmed with H5N1 HPAI since May of this year.
New avian flu outbreak in China
China first reported outbreaks of H5N6 HPAI in poultry to the OIE in September of 2014. During the last week of August, the most recent outbreak was confirmed – at a farm in the province of Guizhou with almost 24,000 poultry, all of which died or were destroyed following confirmation of the infection.
In June this year, LPAI viruses of the H7N9 subtype were detected in Hong Kong. Intensive surveillance of poultry farms, pet bird shops and wet markets over the last 3 months have revealed no H7 viruses and so the authorities have declared the event “resolved.”
Myanmar has declared it has regained HPAI-free status following a combined infection of H5N1 HPAI and low-pathogenic H9N2 in the Monywa livestock zone earlier this year. The authorities report that 123 layer farmer in the area were affected by outbreaks, but intensive surveillance of poultry farms, backyard flocks and poultry markets in the meantime has revealed no further infections.
Avian influenza status on other continents
In the last week of August, it was reported that HPAI viruses of the H5N2 subtype had been detected in a wild mallard duck from a state wildlife refuge in the U.S. state of Alaska. The country’s commercial poultry sector is not affected.
Mexico’s veterinary authority reported H7N3 HPAI in poultry to the OIE in April of 2015. After 32 confirmed outbreaks, there have been no new cases since May 2016. Over the last 2 months, 5 of the most recently affected farms have been depopulated, and the last 3 premises are awaiting this procedure.
Following previous outbreaks of HPAI and the detection of LPAI viruses in Europe over recent months, there have been no further virus-positive results in France, Italy or Denmark. Avian flu restrictions were lifted in Aalborg at the end of August, the last Danish municipality to be subjected to such controls.
