Iran, Vietnam report more H5N1 outbreaks

White duck
White duck

David Mettler / Flickr cc

The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus struck birds in Iran and Vietnam, as H5N8 outbreaks continue in Europe, including at a large poultry farm in Sweden, according to the latest notifications from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

H5N1 in Iran, Vietnam

Iran's H5N1 outbreak began on Jan 15, hitting backyard ducks in a village in Mazandaran province in the country's north on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. The virus killed 10 of 230 susceptible birds, and authorities culled the remaining ducks.

An investigation is under way to identify the source of the outbreak, and active surveillance has been initiated to detect any further outbreaks. The outbreak has been declared as resolved, according to the OIE report. Iran's last H5N1 outbreak occurred in the summer of 2015.

In Vietnam, officials reported a new H5N1 outbreak in backyard birds in Cao Bang province in the north. The event started on Apr 17, killing 700 of 2,004 susceptible birds.

The country has battled several H5N1 and H5N6 outbreaks this year.

Elsewhere, Egypt noted 45 H5N1 events for March, according to notifications from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) compiled by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board. Twenty-five of the reports didn't contain an animal description. The number of monthly reports is up from 12 reported in February.

H5N1 is endemic in Egyptian poultry, and in 2015 an unprecedented surge of infections occurred in humans, leading to about 165 illnesses, 48 of them fatal.

Hungary, Sweden report H5N8 outbreaks

Meanwhile, Hungary today reported four more H5N8 outbreaks at goose farms in Bacs Kiskun County in the south.

The events began from Apr 13 to Apr 18, killing 478 of 5,543 birds. The remaining geese were slated for culling.

Elsewhere, Sweden reported an outbreak at a large layer farm in Sodermanland County in the southeast. The event began on Apr 22 when the farmer noticed increased death in one of the unit's four houses.

The virus killed 755 of 50,000 birds, and authorities destroyed all the remaining chickens to curb the spread of the virus.

See also:

Apr 22 OIE report on H5N8 in Iran

Apr 26 OIE report on H5N1 in Vietnam

Apr 25 FluTrackers thread on H5N1 in Egypt

Apr 26 OIE report on H5N8 in Hungary

Apr 25 OIE report on H5N8 in Sweden

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