Laurie Garrett: Risks Of FMD & Bird Flu Destabilizing Egypt

Photo Credit – FAO

 

 

# 6325

 

From Laurie Garrett and Steven A. Cook an important story in The Atlantic this morning on the growing destabilization of Egypt due to the spread of FMD and Avian flu.

 

I’ll just step aside and invite you to read:

 

Egypt's Real Crisis: The Dual Epidemics Quietely Ravaging Public Health

International May 14 2012, 7:01 AM ET

A combination of avian flu and foot and mouth disease risk destroying the protein supply, eroding public trust, and further destabilizing the Arab world's most populous country . . .

(Continue . . . )

»» Read More

Vietnam’s Battle With FMD, PRRVS & Bird Flu

 

 

 

 

# 5365

 

 

A disturbing report from the Viet Nam News today on the steady increase in bird flu, foot and mouth disease (FMD), and blue ear syndrome (PRRSV in swine) across the country.

 

Blaming a lack of vaccines, officials say these diseases are becoming pervasive nationwide. Additionally, local authorities have supposedly failed to report outbreaks to the public.

 

FMD and PRRVS, unlike bird flu, are not believed to pose a significant direct threat to human health. The FAO  gives this advice on the control of FMD.

 

Control/Vaccine

To eradicate the disease a stamping out policy can be applied. This involves quarantine, movement restrictions and slaughter and disposal of all affected an in-contact livestock on affected premises followed by cleaning and disinfection.

 

Inactivated vaccines have been successfully used in many parts of the world. Although protected against disease, vaccinated animals are not totally resistant and can still become infected and shed virus. Resistance falls fairly quickly, so animals must be revaccinated at regular intervals (4-6 months) to maintain immunity.

 

While not without risk, Vietnamese officials concerned over rising food prices and growing food insecurity, are reportedly looking for ways for consumers to safely process and consume the meat from FMD infected animals.

 

This from Viet Nam News.

 

 

Ministry warns of increasing disease threat

Updated March, 10 2011 10:21:12

 

 

HA NOI — Foot-and-mouth disease, bird flu and blue-ear syndrome are becoming more pervasive nationwide, says director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Animal Health Department Hoang Van Nam.

 

The country did not have enough vaccines to properly combat poultry and cattle diseases and local authorities intentionally have not reported what was actually happening to the public despite the outbreak of the diseases, Nam said.

 

<SNIP>

 

"It is not necessary to slaughter all the cattle infected with foot-and-mouth disease; we can eat their meat if it is cooked properly," said agriculture minister Cao Duc Phat.

 

"We need to instruct people how to hygienically slaughter cattle infected with foot-and-mouth disease," he said.

(Continue . . . )

 

 

FMD is endemic in many parts of the world (Africa, Asia, South America, some parts of Europe), but has been eradicated in many others. 

 

The last outbreak of FMD in the United States was in 1929 – but vigilance is maintained to prevent its return.

 

(current outbreaks FMD – Source OIE)

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FMD: North Korea’s OIE Report

 

 

# 5310

 

Late this week North Korea officially notified the OIE of a spate of recent FMD (Food and Mouth Disease) outbreaks in their nation going back to December of 2010.

 

Given the large number of outbreaks in neighboring South Korea over the past few months, and unofficial intelligence reports (see Reports: FMD Suspected In North Korea) beginning nearly a month ago, this notification wasn’t completely unexpected.

 

Foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hooved ruminants. FMD is not a threat to people and no human health risks are associated with the disease. FMD is caused by a virus. Signs of illness can appear after an incubation period of 1 to 8 days, but often develop within 3 days. There are seven known types and more than 60 subtypes of the FMD virus.

 

 

FMD (not to be confused with HFMD – a usually mild viral illness common to children) is endemic in many parts of the world (Africa, Asia, South America, some parts of Europe), but has been eradicated in many others.

 

The full OIE report is available available here. 

 

It details 48 recent outbreaks involving 500 cattle, nearly 10,000 swine, and 165 goats.  The culling of livestock (if ordered) was not mentioned in this report.

 

According to this initial notification, a locally produced vaccine was employed, but it `was not effective to control the disease’.  The source of these outbreaks was listed as unknown or inconclusive.

 

The following map shows the first 48 outbreaks.

 

 

Under Epidemiological comments, this report indicates that this initial notification is incomplete, that additional outbreaks have been detected, and that further details are expected.

 

This immediate notification report has been prepared and published by the Animal Health Information Department in the meantime and outbreaks are gathered by clusters of outbreaks and by affected district. This is only an approximation of their location.

 

When the exact data on the location of each outbreak will be provided by the National Veterinary Authorities, this report will be amended to reflect more precise locations of the outbreaks and the disease distribution. Not all the outbreaks are processed since approximate geographic locations have not been found.

 

There are additional outbreaks notified in January that are not yet processed and that will be processed as soon as the completed information is received from the country.

 

South Korea meanwhile continues to struggle with their own outbreaks of FMD, with their latest OIE report showing 148 outbreaks since November of 2010.

 

Both Japan and South Korea detected FMD in the spring of 2010, and after the destruction of 290,000 head of livestock, Japan declared their FMD crisis over in August.

 

South Korea, however, continues to find infected livestock and has destroyed millions of head of their combined swine & cattle herds in an effort to contain the virus.

»» Read More

North Korea: FMD Outbreak

 

 

# 5306

 

 

Three weeks after the first intelligence reports emerged suggesting that North Korea was battling outbreaks of FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) (see Reports: FMD Suspected In North Korea), the NK government has reportedly requested assistance from the UN in combating the disease.

 

Two media reports, then I’ll return with a bit more on FMD. First this from the Korean Herald.

 

U.N. to help with FMD outbreaks in N.K.

2011-02-11 19:13

Seoul remains lukewarm toward assistance amid stalemate in ties

The U.N. has said it will send experts to North Korea next week over a purported foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, in the first international move to help the impoverished state curb the fast-spreading livestock virus.

(Continue . . . )

 

And this from the Daily NK, a NK government opposition newspaper published in South Korea.

 

North Korea Calls for FMD Assistance

By Cheong Sun Jin, Intern

[2011-02-10 17:52 ]  

North Korea has confirmed suspicions that it is battling an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, meaning that the disease has now reached every corner of the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang unexpectedly reported the outbreak to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) yesterday, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).

(Continue . . .)

 

Given that diseases tend not to respect political borders, even one as tightly controlled as the Korean DMZ, it isn’t altogether surprising that North Korea should be seeing outbreaks at the same time that South Korea is dealing with the worst FMD epidemic in their history.

 

According to a recent AFP report, South Korea’s agriculture ministry has spent (US) $1.7 billion fighting their FMD epidemic, culling and burying more than 3 million head of livestock since November. At the same time, the South has been combating a major outbreak of bird flu.

 

FMD (not to be confused with HFMD – a usually mild viral illness common to children) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven hoof animals, but almost never `infects’ humans.

 

The virus primarily spreads through the movement of infected animals, contaminated vehicles, or feed.

 

Humans are also capable of spreading the disease, as the virus may be carried on clothing and footwear for days, and reportedly can remain viable in human nasal passages for more than 24 hours.

 

FMD is endemic in many parts of the world (Africa, Asia, South America, some parts of Europe), but has been eradicated in many others.  The last outbreak of FMD in the United States was in 1929 – but vigilance is maintained to prevent its return.

 

(current outbreaks FMD – Source OIE)

 

There are 7 known types of FMD, along with numerous sub-types. Immunity to one type does not provide immunity to the others, and the virus continues to mutate, making it even harder to create and maintain vaccine stocks.

 

Both Japan and Korea detected FMD in the spring of 2010, and after the destruction of 290,000 head of livestock, Japan declared their FMD crisis over in August.  

 

In South Korea, however, outbreaks have continued. In an attempt to control FMD, in addition to culling, South Korea has embarked on an extensive vaccination campaign.

 

North Korea, on the other hand, lacks many of the basic resources found in the South. Chronic food shortages make culling of animals a difficult choice, and vaccines against FMD are currently unavailable in the north.

 

South Korea has supplied emergency relief supplies and expertise to the North in the past when FMD was reported.  But in the wake of the attack on Yeonpyeong Island in November and the sinking of South Korea's Cheonan warship last March, relations between the two nations are in serious decline.

 

While there is little enthusiasm for assisting the North in the wake of these recent provocations, allowing a virulent animal disease to spread unchecked just across the DMZ may ultimately prove to be a far less attractive option.

»» Read More

Reports: FMD Suspected In North Korea

 

 

 

# 5239

 

 

While not totally unexpected, the announcement today that FMD (Foot & Mouth Disease) has apparently been detected in North Korean livestock is worrisome news.

 

First, links to several reports (h/t Makoto on FluTrackers for the first one), then some discussion.

 

From the Korea JoongAng Daily:

 

Foot-and-mouth now in North, says military

 

January 18, 2011

North Korea is apparently suffering from its own bout of foot-and-mouth disease, according to a South Korean military official.

 

“According to South Korean and U.S. intelligence, roads have been blocked by the military near Pyongyang to decrease movement of people,” said the official, who asked not to be named. The source said that quarantine measures are proving difficult for North Korea, which lacks preventive medicine such as vaccines and quicklime in which to bury contagious animals.

(Continue . . . )

 

From the Korea Times:

 

N. Korea may have FMD outbreak

Kim Young-jin

Foot-and-mouth disease, which has caused South Korea to put down some two million heads of livestock, may have hit North Korea as well, officials here said Tuesday.

 

The officials cited recent visitors to the North who claim the disease broke out late last year in the northern part of the country.

(Continue . . . )

 

And from the DailyNK:

 

Intelligence Suggests North Korea Suffering FMD

By Kim So Yeol

[2011-01-18 18:28 ]  

Evidence has emerged that foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) may have broken out in North Korea. Therefore, the question of whether the South Korean government might provide aid to combat any proven outbreak of the disease has arisen.

(Continue . . . )

 

We get very little direct news out of North Korea, and frequently must rely on observations from the few international relief workers allowed in and out of their country, and military intelligence analyses.

 

Often these stories are never verified.

 

The food situation in the North has been described as dire for several years, and so the reports above that suggest that infected livestock are being consumed rather than culled – while not verified – at least sound plausible.

 

FMD is described by the USDA thusly:

 

Foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hooved ruminants. FMD is not a threat to people and no human health risks are associated with the disease. FMD is caused by a virus. Signs of illness can appear after an incubation period of 1 to 8 days, but often develop within 3 days. There are seven known types and more than 60 subtypes of the FMD virus.

 

FMD (not to be confused with HFMD – a usually mild viral illness common to children) is endemic in many parts of the world (Africa, Asia, South America, some parts of Europe), but has been eradicated in many others. 

 

The last outbreak of FMD in the United States was in 1929 – but vigilance is maintained to prevent its return.

 

Both Japan and South Korea detected FMD in the spring of 2010, and after the destruction of 290,000 head of livestock, Japan declared their FMD crisis over in August.

 

South Korea, however, continues to find infected livestock and has destroyed roughly 15%  (2.1 million animals) of their combined swine & cattle herds in an effort to contain the virus.

 

South Korea has also reportedly destroyed more than 3 million poultry in response to their recent bird flu outbreaks (see S. Korea: Bird Flu Moves North).

 

This is the latest Reuters report on the culling of livestock in South Korea:

 

Major culling in S Korea over foot-and-mouth

Published: 6:09PM Tuesday January 18, 2011 Source: Reuters

 

 

FMD is very difficult to eradicate, as is evident by the ongoing struggles in South Korea to contain their recent outbreak. 

 

North Korea, which lacks many of the resources found in the South, is far less well equipped to deal with an FMD outbreak.

 

Although South Korea has supplied emergency relief supplies and expertise to the North in the past when FMD was reported, in the wake of the attack on Yeonpyeong Island in November and the sinking of South Korea's Cheonan warship last March, relations between the two nations are in serious decline.

 

Aside from the obvious humanitarian issues involved, the destabilizing effects of another agricultural/food crisis in North Korea - combined with the prospect of having FMD becoming entrenched in a neighboring country – should make these latest reports of particular concern to interests in both South Korea and China.

»» Read More

Korea: H5N1 & FMD Outbreaks Continue

 

 

 

# 5227

 

 

Today’s report from Yonhap News indicates that 7 new outbreaks of H5N1 were detected today (Thursday) on poultry farms in central and southeastern South Korea, along with two more reports of FMD in livestock.  

 

This brings the total number of outbreaks of bird flu reported in the past 14 days to 23.

 

On Wednesday Seoul announced the intent to vaccinate all potentially exposed livestock in the country against FMD.  Up until now, vaccination  has been limited due to fears that it would extend the time before the nation could regain FMD free status.

 

To date, roughly 10% of that nation’s 10 million pigs and 3.4 million cattle have been culled due to the disease.

 

For more on the ongoing FMD crisis see South Korea Battles Bird Flu, FMD.

 

Additionally, over the past 2 weeks more than 3 million birds have reportedly been culled due to the growing H5N1 crisis, and the nation’s bird flu alert level has been raised to `Orange’; the second highest level.

 

You’ll find more details on these dual animal disease disasters in this Yonhap News report:

 

2011/01/13 15:17 KST

S. Korea confirms more FMD cases in central, southeastern regions

»» Read More

South Korea Battles Bird Flu, FMD

 

Correction: This afternoon I received an email from a reader who kindly informed me of a relatively new FMD testing technology called DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) that could be used to determine whether an animal tested positive due to the disease or the vaccine.

 

New tools like DIVA will hopefully enable farmers to rescue their herds by `vaccinating to live’, although so far many countries and agencies appear slow to embrace this technology.

 

DIVA testing is discussed in Animal Health Australia’s  FMD Vaccination FAQ page, and is featured prominently in the recent EXPERT OPINION ON VACCINE AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC BANKS FOR MAJOR ANIMAL DISEASES - SANCO/7070/2010  report.

 

Since I am hardly expert on FMD or DIVA testing, I would invited interested readers to check out the documents mentioned above - along with the UK site www.warmwell.com - which I’ve only begun to explore, but which seems to provide a wealth of FMD information (along with food security, animal health, rural matters and energy).

 

My great thanks to the reader who took the time to email me. I’m very happy to correct the record, and along the way, I’ve learned something new. 

 

# 5213

 

 

As feared, more farms in South Korea are detecting the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, with three new locations reportedly identified on Sunday. 

 

In addition to several discoveries of wild birds with the virus in the southern half of the country, seven farms have now been found to be infected.

 

 

 

 

 

All of this comes amid the worst outbreak of FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) in South Korea’s history, requiring the destruction of nearly one million animals to date.

 

First this report from Asia Pacific News, then a little more on my part.

 

S.Korea confirms more bird flu cases

Posted: 09 January 2011 1521 hrs

SEOUL: South Korea confirmed three new cases of bird flu on Sunday as the outbreak that began last month further hit farmers who were also battling the nation's worst-ever outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

 

The agriculture ministry confirmed three new cases of the highly contagious virus at duck farms in the southwestern county of Yeongam, bringing the total number of cases to seven since December 31.

(continue . . . )

 

 

The Double Whammy of having both bird flu and FMD striking Korean farms not only increases the economic impact of these animal diseases, it places severe strain on those agencies charged with food safety and disease control.

 

FMD (not to be confused with HFMD – a usually mild viral illness common to children) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven hoof animals, but almost never infects humans.

 

It is endemic in many parts of the world (Africa, Asia, South America, some parts of Europe), but has been eradicated in many others.  The last outbreak of FMD in the United States was in 1929 – but vigilance is maintained to prevent its return.

 

There are 7 known types of FMD, along with numerous sub-types. Immunity to one type does not provide immunity to the others, and the virus continues to mutate, making it even harder to create and maintain vaccine stocks.

 

As standard antibody <edited> blood tests cannot differentiate between a diseased animal and a vaccinated animal (both carry antibodies), vaccination of herds – while sometimes necessary – can greatly delay a countries return to an FMD Free status (see correction above).

 

Both Japan and Korea detected FMD in the spring of 2010, and after the destruction of 290,000 head of livestock, Japan declared their FMD crisis over in August.

 

Korea, however, continues to find diseased animals, and has now destroyed 948,000 pigs and cattle, vaccinated another 1.5 million head, and is looking to secure enough vaccine to inoculate another 6 million farm animals.

 

Officials at the same time are now forced to deal with an expanding outbreak of H5N1 in poultry, further stressing the system, and increasing the agricultural economic impact.

 

While the current outbreak of H5N1 has not yet approached the scale of the 2008 outbreak – when 8 million birds were destroyed -  the winter `bird flu season’ still has several more months to run. 

»» Read More