Avian flu battle continues in Asia, Africa

Following the reported successful reduction in new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry, Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture has decided not to renew a seven-day ban on the transportation of birds.

Regine Bosch, Freeimages.com
Regine Bosch, Freeimages.com

Following the reported successful reduction in new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry, Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture has decided not to renew a seven-day ban on the transportation of birds. There have been some new outbreaks in Taiwan over the last week, however, as well as in South Korea.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has received official reports outlining new HPAI outbreaks in poultry from India, Vietnam, China, Nigeria, Niger and Egypt.

Taiwan ends poultry movement ban despite new HPAI outbreaks

In mid-February, the authorities in Taiwan imposed a seven-day ban on the movement of poultry across the nation. Agriculture Minister, Lin Tsung-hsien, lifted the ban at the end of last week because it had been effective in bringing HPAI outbreaks under control, reports Focus Taiwan.

The Council of Agriculture puts the number of farms with confirmed outbreaks of H5N2 HPAI at 48, and more than 397,000 birds have been destroyed. The impact of the virus has been described as “mild” when compared to the situation in 2015, when HPAI was confirmed at 870 farms and more than 4.4 million poultry were culled.

Based on its greater virulence and ability to infect people, the council has focused attention on control of the H5N6 virus, including the temporary transport ban on poultry. According to Focus Taiwan, there have been 11 outbreaks in poultry caused by this virus, and 26,000 birds have been humanely destroyed. With infections confined to four counties, the authorities describe the situation as “controllable.” However, because the weather conditions on the island are still conducive to the survival and spread of the virus, the Council of Agriculture has urged local governments to step up poultry farm inspections.

Asia: HPAI returns to South Korea, Vietnam, China and India

After an absence of more than a month, South Korea has confirmed a new outbreak of HPAI in poultry, reported the Yonhap news agency last week. Officials in South Jeolla province confirmed the disease at a duck farm in Haenam, and authorized the culling of 63,000 birds. The type of virus was still under investigation.

In Seoul, a second wild bird found dead has tested positive for HPAI, according to the same source. Monitoring is being carried out within a 10-kilometer radius, and restrictions are in place on the movement of poultry, eggs and manure. The previous case was identified with the H5N6 virus.

Veterinary authorities in Vietnam have reported to the OIE that HPAI caused by H5N1 and H5N6 viruses has returned to the country.

Last detected in October of 2016, the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in five outbreaks in backyard flocks in northern and southern provinces since mid-February. More than 13,000 birds have been lost to the disease. The H5N6 HPAI virus has been detected in a backyard flock of around 6,000 birds in the central province of Quang Ngai. It had been absent from Vietnam since July last year.

Last month, China’s health agencies reported the detection of the H7N9 HPAI virus at livestock markets in Guangdong province, leading to the closure of a number of these poultry sales outlets to reduce the risk of human infections. The Ministry of Agriculture has now reported these findings to the OIE.

Veterinary authorities in India have confirmed to the OIE a fourth outbreak of H5N1 HPAI in poultry in the eastern state of Orissa. At the State Poultry Breeding and Research Farm in Angul, 3,570 birds succumbed to the disease.

Africa: Nigeria, Niger, Egypt report new outbreaks in poultry

There have been eight new outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI in Nigeria, according to OIE. Six of these were in Plateau state, and one each in Kaduna and Edo. The latter affected a flock of more than 8,000 broilers, while the other outbreaks were in pullet or layer flocks, with the loss of more than 50,000 birds.

In Niger, the same virus type led to the death or destruction of more than 33,000 layers and broilers in a single outbreak in early January in the state of Tillaberi in the south-west of the country.

One farm and three backyard flocks of poultry in northern Egypt have been affected by outbreaks of HPAI caused by the H5N8 virus. Two of these were in the same community in Sharqi governate, and a total of almost 3,300 birds died or were destroyed. 

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