Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in a second Chinese province in as many weeks, involving a different virus variant.
The latest to be affected is a farm in Sichuan province, according to the Chinese agriculture ministry’s report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
In the village of Qingzaigong in the Nanchong city region in early February, 1,840 birds died, and the remaining 657 were destroyed at the farm. Officials later confirmed the presence of the H5N6 HPAI virus. A further 1,600 poultry in the area were also culled to prevent the further spread of the infection. This virus was last detected in Sichuan in March of 2017, according to the ministry.
Also reported by the ministry to the OIE are details of an earlier HPAI outbreak in Hunan province. As had been reported by local media last week, almost 18,000 poultry were culled after the H5N1 virus was identified in the village of Jilong in Shaoyang city region. Around 4,500 poultry out of the farm’s flock of 7,850 birds died as a direct result of the disease. More than 17,800 more were culled—3,350 at the original outbreak, and almost 14,500 in the surrounding area.
Vietnam: HPAI confirmed in five provinces
After a brief absence, the H5N6 HPAI virus returned to Vietnam in mid-January, affecting a village poultry flock in Quang Ninh province in the Northeastern region.
In a series of three reports over the past week, the agriculture ministry has informed the OIE about new outbreaks linked to this virus in nine more village flocks. In all, more than 28,500 have been lost to the disease through mortality or culling. Affected flocks were in the north-central coast regional provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, as well as Hanoi and Bac Ninh, which are in the Red River Delta region.
Ten new HPAI outbreaks among Taiwanese poultry flocks
Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture has confirmed to the OIE nine new HPAI outbreaks in poultry linked to the H5N2 virus variant. Eight of these outbreaks involved native chickens, and elevated mortality was recorded among the flocks before the infection was confirmed. The virus was also detected in a flock of meat ducks, without any birds showing signs of infection.
In total, these latest outbreaks resulted in mortalities of more than 16,500 poultry, and to the culling and destruction of a further 98,000 birds. Six of the outbreaks were on farms in the county of Yunlin, and two more in Pingtung. Around 300 cases were identified at a slaughterhouse in Tainan city.
Based on reports to the OIE, there were 15 confirmed outbreaks linked to the H5N2 virus in Taiwan during January of 2020, leading to the direct loss of more than 164,000 poultry. The virus has been afflicting the country’s poultry sector since January of 2015.
In Taiwan’s 10th HPAI outbreak reported this week, the H5N5 HPAI virus was detected in a group of 15 native chickens at the Wanhua slaughterhouse in Taipei city. All these birds were destroyed. It was the fourth time that this virus has been detected in Taipei since September of last year, and brings Taiwan’s number of outbreaks linked to this virus so far to 12.
Germany’s first HPAI outbreak in poultry
The first HPAI outbreak of the winter has been reported in Germany.
The majority of the 69 birds in a mixed backyard flock in the south-western region of Baden-Wurttemberg died earlier this month, according to the official report from the federal agriculture ministry. The presence of the H5N8 HPAI virus variant has been confirmed.
In January, the same virus was detected in a wild goose in the region of Brandenburg.
Previously, this virus was last detected in Germany in June of 2017.
In Europe, the H5N8 virus variant of HPAI has been detected in seven countries so far this winter, according to the Italian health authority and research organization for animal health and food safety (IZSVe). As well as the latest outbreak in Germany, infections have been confirmed in domestic poultry and/or wild birds in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Additionally, a mild form of the avian flu virus was found in a Danish laying flock at the end of January.
Possible low-pathogenic outbreak in Scotland
A mild form of avian influenza is suspected in a Scottish free-range layer flock, reports The Scotsman. The infection is thought to involve a non-notifiable virus type, and to have been contracted from wild birds.
Scottish poultry farmers are warned to ensure the highest level of biosecurity.
Europeans warned over avian influenza danger
People exposed to potentially infected birds should avoid direct contact with birds or their droppings. They should take appropriate personal protection measures, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
In recent days, a package of unidentified dead birds from China was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at a Washington D.C. airport. Due to the potential threat of HPAI, the birds are prohibited for import from China.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
