After a few months of apparent freedom from the disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has returned to Nepal, and Taiwan has reported one new outbreak in poultry.
In order to stop HPAI spreading to new areas of Nepal, several administrations have announced the setting up of roadblocks on key access routes.
After avian flu was detected in Kaski and Makwanpur, the authorities of Gandaki Pradesh took these measures at several locations, reports Setopati. This centrally located area borders Province No.3, where previous outbreaks of the disease had been reported earlier by local media.
Also last week, The Himalayan Times reported that similar controls had been set up at three locations by veterinary officials in the Kavrepalanchok district of Province No.3.
Two outbreaks of HPAI linked to the H5N1 virus variant in February have been confirmed by Nepal’s agriculture ministry to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in the last week.
The first was in a flock of almost 51,000 commercial layers in Hetauda in the Makwanpur district of Province No.3 in mid-February, and this was followed two weeks later by another layer flock of around 5,800 birds in the area of the federal capital, Kathmandu. Following observations of sudden mortality and discolored wattles and combs, more than 12,000 hens died at the two locations. The remaining birds have been destroyed to prevent further spread of the disease.
Earlier reports mentioned an outbreak of HPAI in Chitwan, but a senior veterinary official has said there has not been a single case in the district, according to The Himalayan Times. Testing has included dead birds brought by farmers, and samples from markets. Chitwan is the country’s largest poultry-producing district.
The source of the infection in Nepal is unknown. The country had apparently been free of the HPAI virus since September of 2018.
Avian influenza in Taiwan
There has been a new outbreak of HPAI linked to the H5N2 virus type in Taiwan.
Latest to be affected was a flock of almost 17,900 native chickens in Changhua county, according to the official report from the Council of Agriculture to the OIE. More than 1,300 of the birds died, and the rest have been destroyed.
After just one outbreak of HPAI caused by the H5N8 virus variant in Tehran in December last year, the Iran Veterinary Organization has declared the situation “resolved” to the OIE. There has been an ongoing series of outbreaks in the northwest of the country, linked to the same virus type.
Cambodia reports new low-pathogenic avian flu virus
The H7N4 type of the low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus has been detected for the first time in Cambodia.
A number of ducks sampled at live bird markets in three locations — in the capital Phnom Penh, and the southern provinces of Prey Veng and Takeo — have tested positive for the virus, according to the official report to the OIE.
Since last year, active surveillance has been in place at key locations in Cambodia, such as live bird markets. Multiple H7 LPAI viruses were suspected to be circulating at such high-risk sites.
Europe: Irish wild birds declared HPAI-free
Ireland’s agriculture department has declared to the OIE that the country’s HPAI disease situation in wild birds to be “resolved.”
The H5N6 HPAI virus was detected for the first time in January of 2018 in a wild bird found dead in County Tipperary, but no signs of the virus have been found since March last year.
