Highly pathogenic avian flu returns to Iraq

Iraq has confirmed the country's first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry for more than one year. New cases have been reported in Hungary and Taiwan, while veterinary authorities continue to deal with the aftermath of previous avian flu outbreaks in Ireland and the U.S.

(Colette Fitz, Freeimages.com)
(Colette Fitz, Freeimages.com)

After an absence of 14 months, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has returned to Iraq.

The H5N8 virus subtype was identified after more than 21,700 poultry died at a farm in the north of the country earlier this month, according to the agriculture ministry. It reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that the outbreak occurred at an isolated farm in the governorate of Nineveh. The remaining 38,000 birds have been destroyed.

While there are no poultry farms nearby the outbreak, the ministry reports that surveillance will be intensified. The source of the infection is unknown, but the virus could have been transmitted by infected wild birds.

Following the outbreak, movements of poultry between Iraqi provinces have been banned, reports The National. A spokesperson for the agriculture ministry confirmed that all the poultry on the farm had been buried, and that the situation is under control.

Hungary records 12 new HPAI outbreaks

Over the past week, Hungary’s agriculture ministry has reported to the OIE 10 new outbreaks of HPAI linked to the H5N8 virus variant. Confirmed in the period May 3-12, six of the outbreaks were in the county of Bacs-Kiskun, and there were two more in each of Csongrad and Bekes. Located in the south and southeast of Hungary, the three counties share borders with the Republic of Serbia and/or Romania.

As with previous reports to the OIE, numbers and types of birds affected by the outbreaks are not detailed. With a total of 232 confirmed outbreaks since March of this year and losses of poultry well in excess of two million, Bacs-Kiskun has been the worst-affected region. Outbreak totals in Csongrad and Bekes are 27 and five, respectively.

Two more recent outbreaks in Hungary have been registered by Italy’s health authority and research organization for animal health and food safety (IZSVe). In mid-May, two H5N8 HPAI outbreaks were confirmed — one in Bacs-Kiskun, and one in Bekes. Hungary’s veterinary authority considers these to be secondary outbreaks, and so are linked in some way to previous affected premises.

By May 1, Hungary had culled 3.5 million poultry to bring the disease under control, reported Business Insurance. Losses arising from the then 226 outbreaks were put at “several million U.S. dollars.” Total outbreaks in Hungarian poultry since the end of March now stand at 266, based on OIE and IZSVe reports.

Avian flu situation elsewhere in Europe

HPAI has been confirmed in poultry in eight European countries so far this year, according to the Animal Disease Notification System of the European Commission (EC).

In its update of May 18, the organization lists a total of 318 HPAI outbreaks in poultry since January 1. Of these, 267 were in Hungary, and 32 in Poland. Other countries that have reported one or more outbreaks since January 1 are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

In addition, there were three outbreaks in captive birds, and three more in wild birds in Europe, according to the EC.

To the OIE over the past week, veterinary authorities in Germany, Romania and Ukraine have declared an earlier avian flu situation in their respective countries “resolved.” This follows a period of time in which there had been no further signs of the infection or disease.

For Germany, this followed a single outbreak of H5N8 HPAI in a turkey flock in Saxony Anhalt at the end of March. The most recent outbreaks linked to the same virus in Romania and in Ukraine’s Vinnitsa oblast date back to January of this year.

During the previous week, German veterinary authorities declared the avian flu situation “resolved” in Baden Wurttemberg.

Further information has emerged regarding the avian flu situation in the Republic of Ireland.

At the end of April, Irish Post reported that the H6N1 low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus had been detected at 10 poultry farms. All affected premises were in County Monaghan, and around half a million birds had been culled. Four other poultry flocks had tested negative for the virus.

Eight of the affected flocks were laying hens, and the outbreaks impacted the Irish market. An estimated shortfall of around 1.5 million eggs will be made up by imports, according to the Irish Egg Board. The outbreaks occurred just when egg purchases were up by 30% because of the coronavirus pandemic. The other two outbreaks were on turkey farms.

Asia: New outbreak in Taiwan, South Korea on alert

A further outbreak of HPAI of the H5N5 subtype has been confirmed in Taiwan by the Council for Agriculture. According to its latest report to the OIE, the virus was detected in a flock of around 14,700 native chickens in Yunlin earlier this week. Around 1,780 birds died, and the rest of the flock has been destroyed. This was the 8th HPAI outbreak in the county this year, and brings the total outbreaks linked to this virus to 31 since September of 2019.

Taiwan’s last reported outbreak of HPAI in poultry caused by the H5N2 virus variant was more than two months ago. Since the first cases in January of 2015, this virus had been linked to dozens of outbreaks.

Avian flu was last detected in South Korea in March of 2018.

Ahead of the migration season for wild birds, South Korea is stepping up measures to prevent the spread of the disease to its poultry sector. According to Korea Herald, these include increased monitoring and surveillance for the virus in vulnerable areas.

Furthermore, poultry farms nationwide will be inspected before the end of July, and farmers will have until the start of October to rectify any biosecurity failings. From September, all vehicles used in the livestock sector will be banned from entering areas used by migratory birds.

U.S. farms remain in quarantine

The only farm confirmed with the H7N3 HPAI virus remains in quarantine, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reports in its latest update to the OIE that cleaning and disinfection has been completed at the premises in Chesterfield county, South Carolina.

Of the 12 premises where a low-pathogenic H7N3 virus was detected earlier this year, one in South Carolina has been released from quarantine. All other premises — in North Carolina — remain in quarantine. Cleaning and disinfection are completed at two of the farms, and are continuing at the other locations. Surveillance and epidemiological investigations are also ongoing.

Earlier this month, restrictions were lifted in the control zone around the South Carolina HPAI outbreak.

View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.

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