Avian flu returns to Cambodia

After a five-month absence, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has returned to the Cambodian poultry sector, and new outbreaks have been confirmed in Malaysia.

Kate Childers, Freeimages.com
Kate Childers, Freeimages.com

A new outbreak of HPAI caused by the H5N1 virus variant has occurred in Cambodia, according to last week’s official report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Of the 378 birds in the backyard flock, 318 died, and the rest were culled. The affected flock was in Kampong Cham province in central Cambodia. The last HPAI outbreak in the southeast Asian state was in March this year.

So far, there have been no cases of avian flu in humans reported in Cambodia, reports Khmer Times. A senior official in the health department has warned the population to stay away from any sick duck or chicken, and to report it to the authorities.

The number of HPAI outbreaks in Malaysia linked to the same virus subgroup has increased to seven, according to the country’s animal health agency latest report to the OIE, which details cases at a further three locations.

As in the earlier outbreaks, the latest cases were identified in the Tuaran district of the state of Sabah. There were five cases but no deaths among the 770 birds on the affected premises. All birds on these farms have been destroyed, bringing the total number of birds culled to more than 30,000.

With the news of these latest cases, Saudi Arabia’s agriculture has temporarily banned imports of live birds, hatching eggs and chicks from Malaysia, reports Arab News.

Europe: Sweden is free of avian flu

Sweden’s Ministry of Rural Affairs has declared the country free of both low- and highly pathogenic avian influenza to the OIE.

The announcement follows just one case of H5N6 HPAI in a wild bird in April this year, and the detection of a low-pathogenic H5 virus in a flock of breeding pheasants in May. None of the birds showed clinical symptoms, and the virus was detected as part of a surveillance program.

There have been no new HPAI outbreaks in Russia, according to the latest report from the country’s national animal health agency to the OIE. The most recent confirmed cases were in early August. The full identity of the virus involved remains to be revealed.

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