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A Bad Week For Indonesian Chickens

 

 


# 4930

 

 

Although not making many headlines, according to the FAO the number of outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 between January and June of this year have already surpassed the total reported in all of 2009.

 

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FAO Situation Update # 69

 


In recent weeks we’ve seen a number of fresh reports of outbreaks in poultry, and in wild birds, from around the world.  Indonesia and Egypt continue to report the most frequent occurrences. 

 

This morning Ida at the Bird Flu Information Corner - a joint effort between Kobe University in Japan and the Institute of Tropical Disease, Airlangga University, Indonesia – has several reports on outbreaks of bird flu among Indonesian chickens this week.

 

Two days ago Ida posted (follow the links to read the entire story):

 

 

Luwu Timur, South Sulawesi ::: 24,000 birds die of bird flu

Posted by Ida on September 22, 2010

Malili – Avian influenza or bird flu H5N1 attacked Kabupaten (municipal) Luwu Timur, South Sulawesi. At least twenty-four thousand birds in nine sub-districts, Kecamatan Wotu, Burau, Tomoni, Mangkutana, Tomoni Timur, Kalaena, Malili, Angkona and Wasuponda had been infected.

 

So far, the virus is not transmitted to human.

(Continue . . .)

 

 

Today, we’ve 2 more reports. 

 

The first is another report from South Sulawesi – where thousands of chickens have reportedly died, with many having been disposed of in the sea (not a good idea).

 

Pinrang, South Sulawesi ::: Thousands of backyard chickens die of bird flu

Posted by Ida on September 24, 2010

Pinrang – Thousands of backyard chickens in three sub-districts of Kabupaten (municipal) Pinrang, have suddenly died of bird flu since Monday (21/9).

 

Three affected sub-districts are Kecamatan Lanrisang, Watang Sawitto and Paleteang.

 

The outbreak is probably caused by high rain rate in this later week, said Head of Animal Health Division, Livestock Service of Pinrang, Elvi Martina. Last bird flu outbreak in Pinrang occurred in 2005, she added.

(Continue . . .)

 

Shiloh on FluTrackers  posted another translation of this report overnight, and has started a thread to follow this outbreak. 

 

Ida also has a report on what is reported to be a much smaller series of outbreaks in East Java. 

 

Tulungagung, East Java ::: Bird flu in backyard chickens

Posted by Ida on September 24, 2010

Tulungagung – Avian influenza or bird flu H5N1 broke out in Tulungagung, East Java. The possible cause is unstable weather, said Tatik Andayani, the Head of Animal Health Division, Tulungagung Livestock Service.

(Continue . . . )

 

 

Die offs in small holdings like these are often not reported to authorities – or by the media – and probably happen more often than we know.

 

Despite less-than-robust surveillance and reporting, Indonesia remains one of the most active regions in the world for H5N1 activity. 

 

This map, again from the FAO, is for activity earlier in the year.

 

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While bird flu reports have been on the back burner for the past year or so, it is worth remembering that H5N1 remains in Pre-Pandemic Phase III.

 

 

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Outbreaks occur primarily in birds, but sporadic widely scattered human cases are reported as well, particularly in Indonesia and Egypt.  

 

Most (but not all) have been linked to close contact with infected poultry or birds.

 

While the virus has yet to adapt well enough to human hosts to transmit effectively between people, scientists still worry that the virus could mutate into a pandemic strain someday.

 

Which is why we continue to monitor outbreaks like the ones listed above.

Related Post:

Bird Flu
H5N1

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