Highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu outbreaks have expanded in Denmark and Switzerland, two of eight European countries that have recently reported the virus, while other countries grapple with other strains: H5N1 in Nigeria and H5N6 in South Korea.
Also, tests are under way surrounding suspicious bird deaths in other countries. Japan is still waiting for test results on dead birds found in two prefectures, one of them Akita, where influenza A has been found a second dead zoo bird. The outbreak has prompted the culling of 132 at the facility, according to translations of statements by officials and media reports posted by Avian Flu Diary, an infectious disease news blog.
Elsewhere, the rapid spread of H5N8 in Europe and its detections in India and Israel raised concerns about a possible connection to recent poultry deaths in Morocco, but health officials said H9N2 has been found as the cause of death in a large number of poultry, according to a media report translated and posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
H5N8 in 5 more Danish locations
In Denmark, the country's agriculture ministry reported five more H5N8 detections in waterfowl, coming less than a week after officials reported their first two findings, both of which were near the Baltic seacoast.
The new outbreaks—detailed today in a report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)—all involve waterfowl; two are near one of the first H5N8 detections, while the other three are north and west of the area.
Sixteen birds tested positive for the virus after they were found dead in wetlands or on the shore of water sources, including tufted ducks, gulls, and a mute swan.
According to the report, the source of the virus is contact with other wild birds. Officials said that, as control measures, all shows and gatherings involving birds are prohibited and poultry producers have been ordered to keep their flocks indoors.
Switzerland reports 22 outbreaks
Swiss veterinary officials yesterday reported 22 more outbreaks, also coming less than a week after its first two H5N8 detections.
According to a report to the OIE, some of the locations were near where the first two infected birds were found in the north, but several occurred west of there. Nine occurred near the shores of Lake Constance, while others occurred near Lake Leman, Lake de Neuchatel, and Bern.
The outbreaks involved 35 waterfowl found dead from Nov 7 to Nov 14. Twenty were tufted ducks, while other species included gulls, crested grebes, pochards, and a mute swan.
H5N1 in Nigeria, more H5N6 in South Korea
- Nigeria's agriculture ministry today reported an H5N1 outbreak at a layer farm in Rivers state in the southern part of the country, not far from where a similar event occurred earlier this month. According to a report to the OIE, the latest outbreak began on Nov 14, killing 196 of 2,000 susceptible poultry. The remaining birds were culled as part of control measures, which also include disinfection, limiting poultry movement, and enhanced surveillance. Officials said poor farm biosecurity was found at the location.
- In South Korea, highly pathogenic H5N6 has been confirmed for the second time in a wild duck in North Jeolla province, in the west-central part of the country, according to a notification to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The first detection, in poultry feces, was reported last week.
See also:
Nov 17 Avian Flu Diary post
Nov 17 FluTrackers post
Nov 17 OIE report on new Danish H5N8 outbreaks
Nov 16 OIE report on new Swiss H5N8 outbreaks
