Egypt: A Paltry Poultry Vaccine

 

Photo Credit – FAO

 

 

# 6800

 

While the response of much of the world to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (primarily H5N1) involves the immediate culling of all infected birds (and all birds in their vicinity), some countries rely instead on a combination of prophylactic poultry vaccination and strategic culling. 

 

Politically, and economically, it is easy to see why countries like Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam, and China prefer to rely on vaccines.

 

Chickens and ducks are often raised in backyard or neighborhood coops, are the main source of protein for many families, and often represent a sizable portion of their wealth as well.

 

Ordering their destruction at the first sign of illness only encourages bird owners to hide or quickly sell their flocks, for fear of losing them entirely. In the past, we’ve seen angry confrontations between culling teams and poultry owners in places like India and Egypt.

 

Whether due to causation or coincidence, countries that rely primarily on a vaccination strategy seem to be the ones experiencing the most persistent bird flu problems.

 

Experts, like Professor C.A. Nidom, of the Institute of Tropical Disease, Airlangga University have warned in the past that the use of avian flu vaccines may only provide partial protection, allowing the virus to spread `silently’ through a flock (see Indonesia: Debate Over Poultry Vaccination).  

 

Similar warnings were expressed in early 2009 from Zhong Nanshan, a hero of the SARS outbreak and a highly respected respiratory disease specialist in China, who warned that vaccinated poultry can still become infected with the H5N1 virus.

 

Chinese expert issues new bird flu warning

www.chinaview.cn 2009-02-06 17:59:50

GUANGZHOU, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- A leading Chinese expert on respiratory diseases has warned the public to be aware that poultry can be infected with the bird flu virus but show no symptoms.

 

"Special attention should be paid to such animals, including those that have been vaccinated," said Zhong Nanshan.

 

"The existing vaccines can only reduce the amount of virus, rather than totally inactivating it," he said.

(Continue . . . )

 

And for years the OIE (World Organization For Animal Health) has warned that vaccination of poultry cannot be considered a long-term solution to combating the avian flu virus.

 

In Avian influenza and vaccination: what is the scientific recommendation?, the OIE reiterates their strong recommendation that humane culling be employed to control avian influenza, and advising that vaccines should only be used as a temporary measure.

 

While the OIE concedes that some nations may require the use of vaccines for `several years', they strongly urge that countries move away from that program and towards the more conventional culling policy.

 

They call this shift away from vaccines an `Exit Strategy’, a policy which China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt have shown no moves towards.

 

In the spring of 2010 we began to see reports of poultry vaccine failures in Vietnam due to the spread of a new clade (classified as clade 2.3.2.1), which led to this statement FAO Warns On Bird Flu.

 

With dozens of clades (and variants within clades) of the H5N1 virus in circulation, it is not surprising that vaccines that have been in use for several years are no longer protective.

 

Which brings us to a new study – conducted by the Virology department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital -  appearing in the journal Poultry Science, that looks at the effectiveness of six commercially available H5 poultry vaccines currently deployed in Egypt.

 

Of the 6 vaccines tested, only one (based on a locally acquired H5N1 seed virus) actually appears to offer protection.

 

 

Poult Sci. 2013 Jan;92(1):114-8. doi: 10.3382/ps.2012-02637.

Do commercial avian influenza H5 vaccines induce cross-reactive antibodies against contemporary H5N1 viruses in Egypt?

Kayali G, Kandeil A, El-Shesheny R, Kayed AS, Gomaa MR, Kutkat MA, Debeauchamp J, McKenzie PP, Webster RG, Webby RJ, Ali MA.

Abstract (reparagraphed for readability)

After emerging in Egypt in 2006, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses continued to cause outbreaks in Egyptian poultry and sporadic human infections. The strategy used by Egyptian authorities relied on vaccinating poultry, depopulating infected areas, and increasing awareness and biosecurity levels.

 

Despite those efforts, H5N1 became endemic, and vaccine-escape variants are thought to have emerged even though commercial poultry vaccines were protective in laboratory settings. We studied the cross-reactivity of 6 commercially available H5 poultry vaccines against recent H5N1 Egyptian isolates in a field setting in Egypt.

 

Only one vaccine based on an Egyptian H5N1 virus induced high cross-reactive antibody titers. Our results may be explained by the fact that the seed viruses in these vaccines are genetically distinct from H5N1 viruses currently circulating in Egypt.

 

In light of our findings, we recommend that the H5N1 prevention and control strategy in Egypt be updated and reinforced. Special consideration should be given to the vaccination strategy, and the use of vaccines based on currently circulating viruses is advisable.

 

The problem of mismatched poultry vaccines isn’t specific to Egypt, of course. 

 

Recently Hong Kong announced their intention to upgrade their existing vaccine (see New poultry vaccine to be introduced) by the end of 2012. Similarly, Vietnam is now testing a new H5N1 vaccine against the emerging  2.3.2.1 clade of the virus.

 

And over the past few weeks we’ve seen multiple reports of poultry (mostly duck) die offs in Indonesia (see VOA Report On The Indonesian Duck Die Off), concurrent with the recent arrival of clade 2.3.2.1, suggesting their vaccine may be faltering as well.

 

The debate over the merits of culling verses vaccination continues, but one point seems clear. For a poultry vaccination program to work, the vaccine must closely match the viruses locally in circulation.

 

Otherwise, the use of poorly matched vaccines has the potential to merely mask signs of infection in a flock, enabling the virus to spread silently, and possibly mutate further.

»» Read More

Taiwan: Two Reports Of H5N2 In Poultry

 

# 6732

 

Taiwan, which has seen sporadic outbreaks of H5N2 avian influenza in the past, is reporting outbreaks at two poultry farms this morning, albeit in two different counties; one on the main island in Chaiyi county, and the other in the Penghu archipelago off their eastern coast.

 

In a bit of a a surprise, the media report indicates that officials do not plan to cull the birds at the Chiayi farm, since the outbreak is low path. A cull has already been completed at the Penghu farm, where a number of birds had died.

 

First the report from Focus Taiwan, and then a statement from the Hong Kong Government.

 

H5N2 bird flu reported at chicken farm in Chiayi

2012/11/23 18:00:34Taipei, Nov. 23 (CNA) Animal health officials have imposed a ban on the movement of chickens at a farm in southern Taiwan that has been found infected with low-pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza.

Wong Yo-chu, director of the Chiayi County government's Animal Disease Control Center, said his agency will not allow the 15,700 chickens at the farm in Puzih to be moved off the premises, but they will be kept alive.

 

"As it was low-pathogenic, we will not cull the chickens," Wong said, but the eggs laid by the chickens will have to be disinfected before they can be sold on the market.

<SNIP>

Bureau officials also said that a farm with 800 chickens in outlying Penghu County reported the sudden death of 150 chickens on Nov. 19 and another 50 the following day. The farm was confirmed to have been infected with H5N2 virus Thursday.

(By Huang Kuo-fang, Huang Chiao-wen, and Lilian Wu)

 

 

In both cases, farms within 3 kilometers of the outbreaks will be monitored for signs of infection for the next 3 months. Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) issued the following statement this morning.

 

HK suspends import of poultry eggs from two counties in Taiwan

In response to outbreaks of H5N2 avian influenza in Penghu and Chiayi counties announced by the relevant Taiwan authority, a spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (November 23) that Hong Kong would suspend import of poultry eggs from these two counties with immediate effect.

The spokesman said, Hong Kong did not import any live poultry or poultry meat from Taiwan, but there was a small quantity of poultry eggs imported from Taiwan. According to records, during the first three quarters of this year about 7 700 000 poultry eggs have been imported into Hong Kong from Taiwan.

"We will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on the avian influenza outbreak and the latest situation in Taiwan, and will maintain close contacts with major local egg importers, distributors and supermarkets," the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, November 23, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:54

 

 

 

Low path outbreaks of H5 and H7 avian influenzas have been recorded around the globe, and rarely present a human health threat.

 

CIDRAP’s overview on avian influenza Avian Influenza (Bird Flu): Agricultural and Wildlife Considerations details many of these outbreaks.

 

Low Pathogenic avian viruses, if left  unchecked, have the potential to mutate into a more highly pathogenic strain. For that reason low path outbreaks of the H5 and H7 variety are taken seriously, and are a reportable disease to the OIE.

 

Culling is generally the recommended response.

 

Which makes the decision not to cull the birds at the Chiayi farm, and to allow `disinfected eggs’ to enter the marketplace, a curious departure from the control efforts we’ve seen in the past.

»» Read More

NSW: Hen Facility Quarantined Under Suspicion Of Avian Influenza

Photo Credit – FAO

UPDATED: I see Crof has picked up a story indicating Australia: Bird flu at chicken farm is H7 strain

 

# 6718

 

While H5N1 gets most of our attention, there are many varieties of avian influenza including H7s and H9s. Some are highly pathogenic (HPAI)  and produce high rates of morbidity and mortality in flocks – while others are of lower pathogenicity (LPAI).

 

The OIE requires their notification whenever an avian influenza of the H5 or H7 strains are identified, because these strains have a history of evolving from LPAI into HPAI strains.

 

We’ve seen many non-H5N1 outbreaks in local poultry operations in places like the UK, Mexico, and Canada. And while exceeding rare, we’ve seen sporadic human infection from these strains as well (see MMWR: Mild H7N3 Infections In Two Poultry Workers - Jalisco, Mexico).

 

If not quickly contained, these outbreaks can force the culling of tens of millions of bird and can inflict devastating economic losses.

 

Today authorities in Australia’s state of New South Wales are reporting a suspected outbreak of an as-yet unidentified avian influenza (not suspected to be H5N1) at a hen facility in the Lower Hunter region.

 

Details are a bit scant, but here is the official release  from the  NSW Department of Primary Industries.

 

Authorities respond to suspect NSW Avian Influenza case

15 Nov 2012

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has quarantined a layer hen facility in the Lower Hunter region following a suspect case of Avian Influenza.

 

"The suspected virus is definitely not the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has gained worldwide attention — nor is it closely related to that strain," NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Ian Roth said.

 

"Australia has previously had a small number of outbreaks of Avian Influenza viruses which were all quickly and successfully eradicated.

 

"The property has been placed under quarantine and initial tracing and surveillance is being undertaken to confirm that the virus hasn’t spread. We currently have no evidence to suggest it has.

 

"DPI’s First Response Team has been dispatched to monitor the locked-down property."

 

Dr Roth said the peak egg industry body Australian Egg Corporation has been advised and the property owners are co-operating with authorities.

 

"We are still waiting on final confirmation from CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory which is expected later this afternoon," Dr Roth said.

 

Dr Roth said people who notice sick or dead birds should contact their local veterinarian or call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888.

 

For further information on avian influenza is available.

 

 

Beyond the question of the type of avian influenza at work here will come questions on how this virus was introduced into this flock.  

 

Although Australia has been largely spared from avian influenza outbreaks over the past decade, this is not the first incident reported in 2012.

 

In Janaury a duck farm in Victoria was depopulated due to a LPAI outbreak. Although the strain is not identified in the government press release below, according to the OIE REPORT it was an LPAI H5 strain.

 

Low Pathogenic Outbreak January 2012

6 June 2012

In January 2012 The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) quarantined a commercial duck farm in two locations north-west of Melbourne after birds there tested positive to Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI).

 

To prevent spread of the disease, and in accordance with the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994, the Minister of Agriculture declared Restricted and Control areas around the infected properties in which movement of birds and eggs was restricted.

 

Subsequently, the infected properties were depopulated and decontaminated and the results of surveillance have shown that LPAI is no longer present. On 5th June 2012 the Minister revoked the movement restrictions around the infected properties.

 

 

I’ll post an update to this blog when CSIRO releases their analysis of the strain.

»» Read More

Bangalore: More Poultry Culled Due To H5N1

 

Photo Credit – FAO

# 6678

 

 

Last Friday in Bangalore, India: H5N1 in Turkeys, I reported on the discovery of H5N1 at a government-run poultry operation on the outskirts of Bangalore, that had resulted in the deaths and culling of more than 3,300 birds.

 

Today, we are learning that the culling operation has been increased nearly 10-fold, with roughly 33,000 birds now culled.  This from the IBT.

 

Bird Flu Outbreak in Karnataka: Over 33,000 Poultry Birds Culled at CPDO

 

By Ankita Mehta | October 30, 2012 10:39 AM GMT

Fear of avian influenza continued to create panic in Karnataka after more than 33,000 poultry birds -19,235 chicken, 13,673 ducks and 369 emus - were culled at Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO) in Hesaraghatta, 40 km from Bangalore.

(Continue . . )

 

 

The freewheeling Indian media is rarely shy about criticizing the government’s response to bird flu (or any other crisis). Today we get an example from DNA.

 

Bird flu is on, so is passing-the-buck

Published: Tuesday, Oct 30, 2012, 16:43 IST
By Nirad Mudur & Deepthi MR | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

The Centre on October 25 notified its confirmation that avian influenza has indeed struck the Central Poultry Development Organisation & Training Institute (CPDOTI) located in Byatha village in Hesaraghatta on the outskirts of Bangalore.

 

But despite the confirmation that 4,265 turkeys had died due to avian influenza and 206 chicken and 17 ducks died due to suspected infection from the same disease, the state health department and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)’s health department are engaged in a bureaucratic passing-the-buck. Each is stating that the responsibility of checking the disease spread lies solely with the state department of animal husbandry.

(Continue . . .)

 

 

Of particular concern, the story above goes on to state that several poultry farms close to the affected farm had already moved their flocks in order to avoid culling them.

 

Since that can spread the virus to other regions, neighboring states are now taking steps to prevent entry of birds from Karnataka.

This from the Deccan Herald.

 

Bird flu in Karnataka: Kerala bans poultry from outside

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30, 2012 (PTI)

Kerala has banned entry of poultry from other states following detection of avian influenza (bird flu) in a central government farm at Hesserghatt in southern Karnataka.

Following an intimation in this regard from the Karnataka Government, the state Animal Husbandry Department has banned movement of poultry from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu since last evening, official sources said today.

(Continue . . .)

 

For now, H5N1 remains primarily a threat to poultry and wild birds.  India has yet to report a human infection from the virus. 

But elsewhere around the world more than 600 widely scattered human infections have been reported, and the mortality rate has been a horrendously high 60% among known cases.

 

And so we watch outbreaks such as this with keen interest.

»» Read More

Nepal: H5N1 Outbreak In Poultry

 

 

 

# 6634

 

The pattern with the H5N1 virus has been that it declines during the warm summer months, only to return when cooler weather returns with the fall and winter. 

 

This pattern is easily seen in the FAO chart below:

 

 

Although not the hotspot for bird flu like Indonesia, Egypt, or Bangladesh, the H5H1 virus has been making its presence known in Nepal each winter since it was first detected in January of 2009 (see Nepal: Concerns Rise Over More Poultry Deaths).

 

Located as it is between two nations with a long history of outbreaks of H5N1 (India and China), and separated by but a few kilometers from Bangladesh – another bird flu hotspot – it isn’t surprising that the bird flu virus has made its way to Nepal.

 

 

Ironically, Nepal filed a final bird flu report with the OIE just one week ago, six months after the end of their last outbreak.  But with the return of cooler weather, H5N1 has once again emerged.

 

Today, we’ve a report in The Himalayan (h/t Giuseppe Michieli on FluTrackers), indicating a fresh outbreak of the virus, killing 1,200 chickens on a poultry farm in Bhaktapur, outside of the capital Kathmandu.

 

Bird flu confirmed in Bode farm

2012-10-15

ISHWOR K KHAIJU

BHAKTAPUR: At least 1,200 chickens have died of bird flu at a poultry farm in Bode-3 of Madhyapur Thimi in Bhaktapur till Monday noon.

(Continue . . .)

 

 

Nepal’s Animal Health Directorate has declared the area a crisis zone, and for the next 90 days will conduct enhanced surveillance.

»» Read More

Vietnam Reports Progress On New Bird Flu Vaccine

Photo Credit – FAO

 

# 6603

 

 

For several months now we’ve been watching reports out of Vietnam concerning the newly discovered clade 2.3.2.1 C of the H5N1 virus. This is the most recent variation of clade 2.3.2.1 that has been circulating for several years in South East Asia and China.

 

Just over a year ago (see FAO Warns On Bird Flu) concerns were raised over this clade, as the poultry vaccine currently in use was ineffective against it.

 

H5N1 – like all flu strains – is a constantly moving target, mutating and evolving, looking to evade host defenses. Which means that new clades, and variations within each clade, continue to emerge.

 

You can see the evolution of the virus in the chart below, starting with Clade 0, first detected in 1996.

 

(click to load larger image)

All of which means we are not watching just one H5N1 virus strain, we are watching at least 20 genetically separate clades of the virus, with many minor variants of each clade thrown in the mix.

 

Since first reported in July, this latest clade ( 2.3.2.1 C) has made headlines across Vietnam due to its rapid spread. A few earlier reports include:

 

Vietnam: Ministry Bans Transport Of Waterfowl Over H5N1 Fears

V Said, C Said

Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

 

Today, some encouraging news out of Vietnam as they announce early tests results on a new poultry vaccine that shows promise against this emerging clade.

This from the the Saigon-Daily.

 

 

Vietnam develops vaccine for toxic bird flu virus

Wednesday, Oct 03, 2012

At a meeting of the Steering Board for Bird Flu Prevention on October 2 in Hanoi, it was announced that Vietnam has now developed a vaccine that can control the new highly toxic strain of bird flu virus.

 

Pham Van Dong, head of the Department of Animal Health, said that health officials tested the newly developed vaccine on a flock of chickens and the test results were positive.

 

In future, they will conduct experimental tests on water-fowl and if test results are once again positive, the new vaccine will be used throughout the country.

 

The new bird flu strain, 2.3.2.1 C, has recently spread to Vietnam and is now present in affected areas in the northern and central provinces of Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Thai Binh, Ha Tinh and Quang Ngai.

 

Of these, Quang Ngai Province has reported the highest number of dead poultry with nearly 24,000 birds having died so far.

 

The Department of Animal Health said that the bird flu pandemic will develop unpredictably because illegal transportation and sale of poultry of unmarked origin is far too rampant.

 

The Mekong Delta provinces were hence quick to implement the campaign ‘Month for disinfection at farms and prevention and control of bird flu’ in October. During the campaign, farm owners will have to tidy their farms and disinfect their surroundings at least once a week as well as disinfect transportation and cages after use.

 

Slaughterhouses and poultry markets will have to be disinfected once a day, when the butchering is over.

 

 

While we continue to see isolated human infections around the world (see A WHO Flu Review), H5N1 remains largely an avian-adapted virus, and for now primarily a threat to poultry.

 

The concern, of course, is that with continual changes to the virus, one of these days it may better adapt to human or mammalian physiology.

»» Read More

China Reports H5N1 Outbreak In Poultry

Credit Wikipedia

 

# 6562

 

 

Via Xinhua news this morning, confirmation of a large cull of poultry in China’s Guangdong Province, after the discovery of the H5N1 `bird flu’ virus on Sept 11th.

 

 

Bird flu hits S China city

English.news.cn   2012-09-18 19:19:19

BEIJING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The H5N1 avian flu virus has been detected in the city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong province, experts confirmed on Tuesday.

 

The virus has infected 14,050 ducks and killed 6,300 of them since Sept. 11, when symptoms were first reported, a Ministry of Agriculture official said.

 

After the epidemic was confirmed, local authorities cordoned off an infected area in the city and killed all poultry in the area before starting to decontaminate it, the official said.

 

China is particularly prone to bird flu epidemics, as it has the world's largest poultry population and many rural farmers live in close proximity to their poultry.

 

 

 

Zhanjiang is a prefecture-level city, with a population of more than 6 million, and is a prominent seaport and a major trade center.  

 

While this story states that China is particularly prone to bird flu epidemics, relatively few are mentioned in the state controlled media.

»» Read More

Referral: Ed Yong On Poultry Vaccine Recombination

 

 

# 6433

 

A fascinating report appears in the journal Science today, which looked at the unexpected recombination of two weakened herpesviruses used in poultry vaccines, that resulted in the generation of a more fit and virulent virus.

 

Attenuated Vaccines Can Recombine to Form Virulent Field Viruses

Sang-Won Lee, Philip F. Markham, Mauricio J. C. Coppo, Alistair R. Legione, John F. Markham, Amir H. Noormohammadi, Glenn F. Browning, Nino Ficorilli, Carol A. Hartley, Joanne M. Devlin

 

Ed Yong, writing in his excellent Not Exactly Rocket Science Blog for Discover Magazine has the details, background, and analysis of why this sort of unexpected merging of live attenuated viruses is unlikely to be a problem with human vaccines.

 

By all means, take a side trip to read Ed’s:

 

Chicken vaccines merged to form live viruses and caused outbreaks of irony

»» Read More

China: H5N1 Reported In Poultry

 

 

Map Credit – FAO

 

# 6415

 

 

The OIE received notification today from China’s Ministry of Agriculture of an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 among poultry in their northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.  

 

While doubts exist that all outbreaks of bird flu in China are officially reported, based on the last follow-up report to the OIE (06/06/12 Follow-up report No. 5), this would be the sixth state-recognized outbreak of 2012.

 

OIE H5N1 Reports China (People's Rep. of) 2012

• 31/03/12 Follow-up report No. 1 50193
• 18/04/12 Follow-up report No. 2 50313 
• 24/04/12 Follow-up report No. 3 50346
• 17/05/12 Follow-up report No. 4 50483 
• 06/06/12 Follow-up report No. 5 50600

 

 

First the story as reported by Xinhua News, then a link to the OIE report.

 

 

China confirms H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Xinjiang

English.news.cn   2012-07-02 21:37:30

BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has reported an outbreak of H5N1 in poultry, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced Monday.

 

The disease has killed 1,600 chickens raised by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a unique economic and semi-military government organization of about 2.5 million people.

 

A total of 5,500 XPCC-farmed chickens showed symptoms of suspected avian flu on June 20, according to the MOA.

 

The National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory Monday confirmed the epidemic was H5N1 bird flu after testing samples collected at the farm, the MOA said.

 

Local authorities have sealed off and sterilized the infected area, where a total of 156,439 chickens have been culled and safely disposed of to prevent the disease from spreading, according to the MOA.

 

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a contagious disease of animal origin caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. It can be fatal to humans.

The OIE report appears in the FAO’s EMPRES-i database.

»» Read More

That Duck May Look Clean, But . . .

 

 

# 6410

 

The CDC is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo involving 66 persons across 20 states linked to the handling of live poultry (baby chicks or ducklings or both) sold via mail-order hatcheries and  agricultural feed stores.

 

You may recall that similar warnings have gone out in the past regarding Human Salmonella Infections Linked to Small Turtles.   Like turtles, poultry can sometimes carry and spread the salmonella bacteria, which makes good hand hygiene particularly important after touching these birds. 

 

In this case, the CDC’s investigation has traced the infected birds to a Hatchery in Springfield, Missouri.  You can read the details at:

 

 

Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Montevideo Infections Linked to Live Poultry

Highlights

• Read the Advice to Consumers »
• A total of 66 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo have been reported from 20 states.
  • The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alaska (1), California (2), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (8), Iowa (2), Kansas (10), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (22), Nebraska (5), Nevada (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (4), South Dakota (1), Vermont (1), and Wyoming (1).
  • 16 ill persons have been hospitalized.  One death was reported in Missouri, but Salmonella infection was not considered a contributing factor in this person’s death.
  • 35% of ill persons are children 10 years of age or younger.
• Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings have linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live baby poultry from Estes Hatchery in Springfield, Missouri.
• Mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores, and others that sell or display chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry should provide health-related information  [PDF - 1 page] to owners and potential purchasers of these birds prior to the point of purchase. This should include information about the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection from contact with live poultry.

 

 

There are over 2,500 serotypes of Salmonella, and . Salmonella Montevideo ranks among the 10 most common strains.  According to the CDC, the Clinical Features/Signs and Symptoms of infection are:

 

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. The illness usually lasts from 4 to 7 days. Although most people recover without treatment, severe infections may occur. Infants, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

 

 

For more  information about Salmonella, you may wish to check out the CDC’s Salmonella FAQ.

»» Read More

China Reporting H5N1 In Poultry

 

Map Credit Wikipedia

# 6290

 

 

Via the China Daily we’ve a report (that has also been echoed in Chinese Language news reports overnight) that a large outbreak of H5N1 has been detected in Northwestern China.

 

The big news here isn’t so much that Chinese poultry have been discovered to be infected by the H5N1 virus (something that many observers suspect happens more often than we are told), but that in this case, it is being publically acknowledged.

 

Here is the report from China Daily.

 

H5N1 bird flu reported in NW China

Updated: 2012-04-18 20:30

(Xinhua)

BEIJING - China's Northwestern Ningxia Hui autonomous region has reported an outbreak of the highly epidemic H5N1 bird flu virus in poultry, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced Wednesday.

 

More than 23,000 chickens at several farms in a village of Touying town in the city of Guyuan in Ningxia showed symptoms of suspected avian flu Friday and the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed the epidemic was a H5N1 bird flu case after testing samples collected at those sites, according to the MOA.

 

The body said in a statement that a total of 95,000 chickens have been culled after the H5N1 bird flu case was confirmed.

 

"The epidemic is under control now," it said, as a team was dispatched to the quarantined area to guide epidemic prevention.

»» Read More

H5N1: Hiding In Plain Sight

 

 

Photo Credit – FAO

# 6164

 

A pair of related stories this morning that reinforce the notion that in some places the H5N1 virus may be hiding in the environment, or alternatively, in healthy looking chickens.

 

Neither of which are exactly new ideas, but thus far evidence for both scenarios has been less than overwhelming.

 

First, as study out of Cambodia (h/t Tetano on FluTrackers) that was published on Feb. 17th by the journal Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.

 

In this study, environmental samples were collected following outbreaks of bird flu in Cambodia between April 2007 and February 2010.

 

 

Environment: a potential source of animal and human infection with influenza A (H5N1) virus

Srey V. Horm, Ramona A. Gutiérrez, San Sorn, Philippe Buchy

Article first published online: 17 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2012.00338.x

ABTRACT (excerpt)

Results Of a total of 246 samples, 46 (19%) tested positive for H5N1 by qRT-PCRs. Viral RNA was frequently detected in dust, mud and soil samples from the farms’ environment (respectively, 46%, 31% and 15%).

Samples collected from ponds gave a lower proportion of positive samples (6%) as compared to those collected from the farms (24%). In only one sample, infectious virus particles were successfully isolated.

Conclusion During H5N1 virus outbreaks, numerous environmental samples surrounding outbreak areas are contaminated by the virus and may act as potential sources for human and/or animal contamination.

 

It should be noted that given the sensitivity of modern RT-PRC testing, the ability to detect a virus in the environment doesn’t always tell us if it is viable.  That is . . .  whether it remains capable of infecting a host.

 

This report reinforces similar research over the past few years that have expressed similar concerns.

 

During the summer of 2010, in a blog called Of Ducks, And Feathers, And H5N1 we looked at a study that determined that the H5N1 virus may persist on the dropped feathers from infected ducks and that they may spread the virus to the environment.

 

The surprising part of this study is how long these feathers retained some degree of viral contamination at various temperatures.

 

At 4°C (39F) the virus was detectable for 160 days, while at the higher temperature 20°C (68F), the virus was detected for 15 days.

 

The following month, in a study that appeared in Environmental Science and Technology titled:

 

Environmental Persistence of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Virus

Joseph P. Wood, Young W. Choi, Daniel J. Chappie, James V. Rogers, and Jonatha

n Z. Kaye

DOI: 10.1021/es1016153

Copyright © 2010 American Chemical Society

 

Researchers conducted tests on four inanimate materials (glass, wood, galvanized metal, and top soil) to determine how long – and under what environmental conditions – the virus could survive.

 

They adjusted factors such as  temperature, relative humidity, and simulated sunlight and checked the samples over a period of 13 days.

 

The virus was most persistent at lower temperatures, and on surfaces such as glass and steel. Their conclusion?: at these conditions, the virus would be expected to persist appreciably beyond 13 days.

 

And in November of 2010, we saw an EID Journal study that surveyed LBMs (Live Bird Markets) in Indonesia, and found traces of the H5N1 virus in nearly half of the environmental samples tested (see EID Journal: Indonesian Bird Markets Tested For H5N1).

 

 

Next stop, comments published today in the Indonesian newspaper TEMPO  (h/t Commonground) from Professor C.A. Nidom, of the Institute of Tropical Disease, Airlangga University. 

He repeats a warning that he (and others) have given before; that ineffective or improperly dispensed poultry vaccines can mask H5N1 infection in poultry, allowing people to be exposed via `healthy looking’ chickens.

 

 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 | 10:43 pm

Can Bird Flu Virus Found in Poultry Healthy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Avian Influenza, Zoonosis Research Center University of Airlangga, CA Nidom, said that the bird flu virus (H5N1) can be found in healthy birds. Under these conditions because the vaccine is given to poultry.

He said the bird flu in poultry vaccine made antibodies to poultry so that the birds will stay healthy and not die even if hit by bird flu virus. As a result, signs of the virus has already infected, but not seen. So that public awareness is less because they think that their birds have in a healthy state.

"Our research states that avian flu has been vaccinated birds can still carry the virus even look healthy," he said by telephone on Wednesday, February 22, 2012.

(Continue . . .)

 

If this sounds familiar, you may recall that Dr. Nidom has previously warned on using poultry vaccines to control Indonesia’s bird flu problem (see Indonesia: Debate Over Poultry Vaccination), as opposed to culling.

 

Similar warnings were expressed in early 2009 from Zhong Nanshan, a hero of the SARS outbreak and a highly respected respiratory disease specialist in China, who warned that vaccinated poultry can still become infected with the H5N1 virus.

 

Chinese expert issues new bird flu warning

www.chinaview.cn  2009-02-06 17:59:50

GUANGZHOU, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- A leading Chinese expert on respiratory diseases has warned the public to be aware that poultry can be infected with the bird flu virus but show no symptoms.

 

"Special attention should be paid to such animals, including those that have been vaccinated," said Zhong Nanshan.

 

"The existing vaccines can only reduce the amount of virus, rather than totally inactivating it," he said.

(Continue . . . )

 

The OIE (World Organization For Animal Health) has been aware of the potential of vaccines to hide infection for many years, warning that vaccination of poultry cannot be considered a long-term solution to combating the avian flu virus.

 

In Avian influenza and vaccination: what is the scientific recommendation?, the OIE reiterates their strong recommendation that humane culling be employed to control avian influenza, and advising that vaccines should only be used as a temporary measure.

While the OIE concedes that some nations may require the use of vaccines for `several years', they strongly urge that countries move away from that program and towards the more conventional culling policy.

They call this shift away from vaccines an `Exit Strategy’, something which China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and have shown no move towards.

 

And the big news now out of Vietnam over the past year has been the failure of their poultry vaccine against the emerging 2.3.2.1 clade of the virus which is now widely circulating in the north.

 

In August 2011 the FAO issued a statement on this 2.3.2.1 clade (see FAO Warns On Bird Flu) that is not covered by currently available poultry vaccines.

 

Despite the growing concerns over asymptomatic poultry carrying the H5N1 virus, and evidence of environmental contamination by the virus, the limited number of human cases we have seen to date indicate that the virus still has a hard time infecting humans.

 

It is adapted to avian physiology – not human - and must mutate further if it is to become an imminent public health threat.

 

But with 20+ clades of the virus now circulating, and numerous opportunities to expose and infect other hosts (human, swine, mammal, and avian), the virus may one day succeed.

 

 

Which is why the world remains in pre-pandemic phase III on the H5N1 virus, and we watch its progress intently.

»» Read More

Hong Kong Raises Alert Level On Finding H5N1 Positive Poultry

 

 

Photo Credit – FAO

# 6023

 

 

Although a report on Hong Kong raising their bird flu alert level has been bouncing around the news wires for a couple of hours (see News Channel Asia coverage  here) I’ve been waiting for a bit more detail to emerge on this story. 

 

First from today’s (Dec 21st) RTHK (Radio – Television Hong Kong) News reports.

 

Dead chicken tests positive for H5N1

A dead chicken found at the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market has tested positive for H5N1 birdflu, prompting authorities to order a cull of all 17-thousand birds being held there.

 

All trading of live poultry there will also be shut down for the next 21 days. The Secretary for Food and Health, York Chow, says authorities are still trying to track down the source of the virus. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has raised its avian flu alert level to 'serious.'

 

Hong Kong was the site of the first human cluster of H5N1 infection 15 years ago and bore the brunt of the SARS outbreak in 2003. Last year, they saw their first human infection from the H5N1 virus since 2003.

 

Authorities there are, quite understandably, quick to act whenever there is even a hint of threat from a novel flu virus.  At this time, it should be noted, there are no indications of any human cases.

 

Here is the press release from the  HKSAR government website :

 

 

Chicken carcass sample found in Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market tested positive for H5N1 virus

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, yesterday (December 20) announced that a chicken carcass sample taken from the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market (Wholesale Poultry Market) was tested positive of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus during regular surveillance of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).

 

Staff from AFCD found the concerned chicken carcass sample from the Wholesale Poultry Market yesterday morning. The Government is tracing the source of the chicken carcass.  It is not certain at this stage whether the chicken came from local farm or was imported.

 

In view of the finding of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in the local wholesale poultry market, the Government has raised the response level for avian influenza from "Alert" to "Serious".

 

Dr Chow convened a meeting of the Steering Committee on Avian Influenza last night, which decided to implement a series of measures to prevent the spread of the virus and to protect public health.

 

Measures by the Administration include the following:

(1) The Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation declared the Wholesale Poultry Market as an infected place. AFCD will cull all poultry in this market, which amounted to more than 17,000 in total number, in the morning of December 21. The Wholesale Poultry Market will be closed until January 12, 2012.

(2) Local farms are stopped from dispatching chickens to the market for 21 days. During the period, AFCD would step up inspection on local farms and collect more samples for tests in order to monitor if any of the local farms is infected. AFCD had inspected all 30 chicken farms in Hong Kong yesterday and no abnormality had been detected so far.  AFCD would continue to step up inspection on local farms in the coming few days and conduct virus tests for chickens.

(3) Imports of live poultry including day-old chicks would be suspended for 21 days. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has notified the Mainland authorities of the case. The relevant inspection and quarantine bureaux have been requested to stay alert and take all necessary precautions to prevent avian influenza in registered live poultry farms which supply Hong Kong with poultry. The Mainland authorities indicated that no abnormality has been detected from the registered live poultry farms.

(4) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) would request all live poultry retail outlets to be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected to prevent the virus from growing and accumulating in the environment. Prohibition of overnight stocking of live poultry at all retail outlets has been implemented since 2008. As such, no live poultry was kept after 8pm last night at the retail level. In other words, there would be no live chicken supply at the retail level during the closure of the Wholesale Poultry Market.

(5) The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) would contact poultry wholesalers and workers in the Wholesale Poultry Market as well as local chicken farmers to follow up on their health condition. The Hospital Authority (HA) has prepared for contingency response measures. CHP and HA have also urged doctors and public hospitals to report any suspected case of avian influenza. 

(6) The Administration has stepped up cleansing and biosecurity measures in the Hong Kong Wetland Park, and has also contacted the World Wild Fund Hong Kong requesting them to step up their biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of avian influenza in Mai Po Nature Reserve.

 

Dr Chow said recent detection of H5N1 virus in local wild birds indicated that the disease remained a threat to our community.

 

"It is unfortunate that an avian influenza case is detected before the Winter Solstice, necessitating a halt to the supply of live chickens.  I understand that it will cause inconvenience to the public, and the poultry trade will also encounter losses. However, to safeguard public health, we need to adopt decisive and effective measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus," Dr Chow said.

Dr Chow called for concerted effort from the community to guard against avian flu.  Members of the public should strictly observe personal and environmental hygiene, and stay away from dead birds, avoid contact with wild birds, live poultry and their droppings. Members of the public should consult their doctors for medical advice promptly if they have fever or flu symptoms.

 

Dr Chow noted the incident has reflected the effectiveness of the Government's established surveillance on avian influenza virus.  Such effective surveillance has enabled contingency measures to be taken swiftly.

Ends/Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 04:15

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Indonesia: Major Poultry Die Offs From Bird Flu

 

 

 

# 5692

 

Poultry infections from the H5N1 bird flu virus in Indonesia are so common that they rarely rate notice outside of their local press.

 

 

But, as Ida from BFIC tells us in a translation this morning of an article from the Indonesia newspaper, Tempo Interaktif, 10 regions of South Sulawesi are dealing with an unusually large die off of poultry, even by Indonesian standards.

 

More than 100,000 birds have died in the past couple of weeks amid reports of vaccine and disinfectant shortages.

 

This is an event that the newshounds on FluTrackers  have been following for more than a week, and you can read additional news items on this thread.

 

This report is from this morning’s Bird Flu Information Corner – a joint project between Japan’s Kobe University and the Institute of Tropical Disease, Airlangga University, Indonesia.

 

Maros, South Sulawesi ::: Bird flu widespreads in 10 regions

Posted by Ida on July 14, 2011

Maros – Veterinary Disease Investigation Center, General Directorate of Livestock in Maros reported ten regions in South Sulawesi tested positive bird flu H5N1 infection according to the research conducted from January to July 2011, said spokesman of Veterinary Disease Investigation Center in Maros, Affendi.

 

Of 2,404 birds tested, over 100 of them were positive bird flu H5N1. The samples came from Kabupaten (municipality) Bantaeng, Takalar, Makassar, Palopo, Pinrang and Maros. The virus had also been found in Kabupaten Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi.

 

It is unclear whether the virus has spread to Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap), Parepare, Gowa and Enrekang, said Affendi, as the laboratory has not examined the samples of dead chickens recently occurred  in those areas. Officers in field have got rid of the dead poultries, but until now they have not sent the samples to Maros laboratory.

 

Previously, the head of Livestock Service in South Sulawesi, Murtala Ali, said bird flu H5N1 has spread in Sidrap, Parepare, Enrekang, Gowa and Pinrang. Bird flu in Sidrap has affected 11 sub-districts resulting 109.909 chickens death (72,909 layers, 29,200 broilers and 7,032 native/backyard chickens).

 

(Continue . . . )

 

Earlier this year (see Bird Flu: Confusing Reports Out Of Indonesia) Antara news reported that local authorities in Cirebon district, West Java only had enough vaccine to inoculate 7% of the district’s poultry.

 

It remains to be seen whether this Sulawesi outbreak is due to lax or inadequate vaccination of local poultry stocks, or if it is due – as has recently been reported in Vietnam – to the introduction of a vaccine resistant strain to the region.

»» Read More

Bangladesh: Conflicting Bird Flu Reports

 

 

# 5564

 

 

We’ve a curious report today in the Financial Express – the only English language financial daily in Bangladesh – on the level of bird flu activity in that country.

 

Since 2007 we’ve often heard of outbreaks of the H5N1 bird flu virus on poultry farms, and the OIE (to whom reporting of H5 & H7 avian flu is mandatory) lists 34 reports totaling 514 outbreaks since May of that year.

 

 

(Photo Credit – OIE Bangladesh H5N1)

The last OIE notification was on May 12th of 2011, which noted 3 recent outbreaks,  and the total number of poultry affected since 2007 is listed as just under 640,000.

 

(Photo Credit – OIE Bangladesh H5N1 Stats)

 

Which makes the following story in the Financial Express - wherein an Industry leader puts the number of outbreaks at 20 times higher – a bit hard to reconcile.

 

A hat tip to Carol@SC on the Flu Wiki for this link.

 

 

Bird flu wreaks havoc in poultry industry: official

 

Dhaka, Friday July 1 2011

Doulot Akter Mala

A third of the country's farm-raised chicken has been decimated by the latest outbreak of the bird-flu, a top poultry farmer has said Thursday, demanding compensation for the affected farms.

 

He told the FE the government needed to roll up its sleeve and help the affected farms with compensation and vaccines in an effort to prevent Avian Influenza from inflicting a mortal blow to the key industry.

 

"We've estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 poultry firms have been affected by bird-flu. Unfortunately the government shows it only 153," said Syed Abu Siddique, president of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association,

(Continue . . . )

 

This makes for a sizeable discrepancy between the claims made by the President of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association and what has been officially reported to the OIE.

 

The accuracy of either number is difficult to verify, since the OIE can only report what is voluntarily submitted to them.

 

And between this report, and others, there is obviously a good deal of political pressure being exerted in Bangladesh over current and future tax breaks for the poultry Industry, compensation for culled birds, and the importation of vaccine.

 

A cause that would be bolstered by higher poultry losses.

 

There is also the possibility that Siddique is including LPAI outbreaks – such as H9N2 – in his numbers, although only H5N1 is mentioned in the article.

 

We are left with a bit of a mystery it seems.

 

And while I am a bit skeptical that 95% of the outbreaks in Bangladesh are going unreported - that country remains one of the hotspots for bird flu activity in the world - and so it deserves our continued attention.

»» Read More

Iraq: Media Report Of Numerous Poultry Deaths

 

 

# 5535

 

 

There are many places in the world where getting accurate and timely reports on outbreaks of infectious diseases – whether they affect animals or humans – can be very difficult.  

 

They may occur in remote regions with poor lines of communication, in areas without modern medical testing or surveillance capabilities, or in nations dealing with armed conflict or natural disasters, or in countries with repressive governments or limited press freedoms.

 

Many places could put a checkmark beside two or more of those conditions.  Which makes it hard to access the true impact of many diseases around the world.

 

One of those places is Iraq, which is still reeling from decades of military conflict and political turmoil.

  

 

Although surrounded by countries that have reported outbreaks of H5N1 in the past (most notably Turkey and Saudi Arabia), we’ve seen relatively few reports of bird flu coming out of Iraq in recent years. 

 

In 2008 we saw Iraq: H9 Bird Flu Detected In Duhok, Reports Of Extensive Bird Culling In Iraq, and KUNA: Bird Flu Detected In Iraqi Birds.  

 

And if you go back to 2006, three human infections were confirmed by the World Health Organization  (see  Avian influenza – situation in Iraq - update 5).

 

 

We occasionally see media reports in the Arab press of bird die offs, sometimes attributed to `bird flu’.  Rarely do we get updates, or laboratory confirmation of the kind of `bird flu’ involved. 

 

Today, we’ve another such report, out of Diyala, Iraq.  It is reported in Arabic by the Independent Iraqi news service Aswat al-Iraq.

 

While the strain of bird flu is not mentioned, based on the `loss of thousands of chickens’, one would assume if this is avian influenza, it is a highly pathogenic strain.

 

There are, of course, other poultry diseases that could account for these kinds of losses, including Newcastle and fowl cholera (Pasteurella multocida). So, until we see some laboratory results, I’d recommend taking the diagnosis of `bird flu’ with a grain of salt.

 

The following was discovered and posted by Sharon Sanders on FluTrackers, and is a machine translation from the original Arabic.   

 

 

The bird flu epidemic threatens thousands of poultry in Diyala (FT link)

28/04/2011 14:54

Diyala / Aswat al-Iraq: Member of the Committee warned services in the province of Diyala on Thursday, a disaster and epidemic led to the deaths of thousands of poultry in the province, as an agricultural source said that the epidemic is widespread in the areas of the Khanaqin.

The Prince Abdul Sajid told (Voices of Iraq) that "the Diyala province, suffer from the spread of bird flu pandemic, which led to the deaths of thousands of chickens in different parts of Diyala, including seven of thousands of chickens in the elimination of Baquba."

 

Talib Abd al-Amir and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock to "show greater attention to addressing the epidemic through the provision of pesticides needed."

 

For his part, said an official source at the Agriculture Department of Diyala, "The flu is widespread in the areas of the Khanaqin (155 km north east of Baquba), noting that" the epidemic is widespread in areas Qrtbp and powerful and led to the loss of thousands of chickens. "

 

He attributed the source of many of the most important reasons for the indiscriminate importation of eggs as well as the poor quality of the vaccines used, he said.

 

Baquba, capital of Diyala province, lies 57 km northeast of the capital Baghdad.

(Arabic Source Link)

 

 

For whatever reason, an English version of this story does not appear to have been published on the Aswat al-Iraq English language page.

 

Obviously we’ll keep an eye on this for future updates.

»» Read More

Netherlands: H7 Bird Flu Detected

 

 

# 5445

 

 

Due to its high mortality rate, H5N1 gets most of the world’s attention when it comes to bird flu.  While human infections remain rare, among those diagnosed, roughly 60% succumb to the virus.

 

But H5 isn’t the only avian flu strain we worry about.

 

There are other – less deadly strains – including the H7s, H9s and H11s that have demonstrated the potential to jump to humans.

 

Currently, H5s and H7s are both reportable diseases in poultry, due to their ability to mutate from a low pathogenic virus to highly pathogenic virus.

 

Today, we’ve news of an outbreak of bird flu on a poultry farm near Kapelle, in the Netherlands.  The virus has been identified as H7, but the exact subtype has not yet been established.

 

 

 

First a translation of the statement from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, after which I’ll return with more.

 

 

Bird flu in Zeeland

News item | 03/25/2011

In Zeeland Schore, Chapel congregation is a poultry farm with 127,500 laying hens found bird flu. The H7 is a variant.

 

Because a low pathogenic H7 variant can mutate into highly pathogenic (highly contagious and lethal for chickens variant), the company both a low and a highly pathogenic variant in accordance with European regulations are removed. The new Food Safety Authority to carry out culling on March 25. In the afternoon of March 25 is known whether a low or a highly pathogenic variant,.

 

As of March 25, 2011, is 8.00 hours in an area of ​​one kilometer around the company a ban on transporting poultry, eggs, poultry and poultry manure and litter.

 

The infection probably comes from wild birds excrete the virus in their faeces.

 

 

 

Below you’ll find a chart lifted and edited from CIDRAP’s excellent overview Avian Influenza (Bird Flu): Implications for Human Disease  showing non-H5N1 avian flu infections in humans over the past decade.

 

 

Perhaps the most notorious outbreak of H7 in humans occurred in 2003 in the Netherlands.  It  produced (mostly mild) symptoms in at least 89 people, but did cause 1 fatality. 

 

CIDRAP describes it this way:

 

During an outbreak of H7N7 avian influenza in poultry, infection spread to poultry workers and their families in the area (see References: Fouchier 2004, Koopmans 2004, Stegeman 2004). Most patients had conjunctivitis, and several complained of influenza-like illness. The death occurred in a 57-year-old veterinarian. Subsequent serologic testing demonstrated that additional case-patients had asymptomatic infection.

 

In 2006 and 2007 there were a small number of human infections in Great Britain caused by H7N3 (n=1)  and H7N2 (n=4), again producing mild symptoms.

 

Since surveillance is – at best - haphazard (or even non-existent) in many parts of the world,  how often this really happens is unknown.

 

For now, H7 avian influenzas pose only a minor public health threat. 

 

Since the H7 viruses generally produce mild symptoms in humans, you may be wondering why all the fuss over an outbreak of H7?

 

The H7s, like all influenza viruses, are constantly mutating and evolving.  

 

While considered mild today, there are no guarantees that the virus won’t pick up virulence over time, or reassort with another `humanized’ virus and spark a pandemic.

 

Three years ago, we saw a study in PNAS that indicated that the H7 virus might be moving more towards adapting to humans.

 

Contemporary North American influenza H7 viruses possess human receptor specificity: Implications for virus transmissibility

 

You can read more about this in a couple of blogs from 2008, H7's Coming Out Party and H7 Study Available Online At PNAS.

 

For more on pandemic threats beyond H5N1 you may wish to revisit:

 

It Isn’t Just Swine Flu

»» Read More