A case of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) that was reported in a flock of breeder ducks and geese in Monterey County, California, has been resolved, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported.
The case was initially reported to the OIE in April. More than 34,000 birds were susceptible to the virus, which was of the H5N2 serotype.
According to a report released by the OIE on September 9, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) conducted a comprehensive epidemiological investigation of this event. There were no clinical signs of illness or increased mortality on the premises. Hatchlings were euthanized and brood stock on the affected premises were monitored for clearance of avian influenza virus. Twenty-one days after the first negative samples, the adult birds were moved from the affected barn to another barn on the premises; shipment of disinfected product and hatchlings under permit was allowed at this time.
Sentinel ducks were placed in the affected barn on July 26, 2019. The sentinel birds were tested on August 19, 2019 and avian influenza virus was not detected. The premises was released from quarantine on August 30, 2019.
The source of the infection was not determined, according to the OIE report.
California H7 avian influenza case
A second case of low pathogenic avian influenza in California was reported by the CDFA on June 28.
In that case, it was detected in a non-commercial duck layer flock in Merced County, during routine testing. The affected flock did not show any clinical signs. Partial gene sequencing by USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed H7 LPAI consistent with North American wild bird lineage on June 27, 2019. Virus isolation is pending.
No OIE reports on that case are available.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
