Clinical Updates
10 March 2006
Avian influenza - Albania, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Nigeria and Poland
Albania
On 7 March 2006, the Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed that 60 chickens in the village of Cuke, Sarande County, Vlore State died from H5N1 avian influenza. The outbreak is reported to have started on 16 February 2006 and is the first known outbreak of H5N1 in Albania. Movement controls and protective zones are in place and the area is being disinfected [1].
Egypt
As of 4 March 2006 the OIE has confirmed that in addition to outbreaks in seven states reported in February; there have also been outbreaks in poultry in the states of Beni Suaf, Kafr el Shiekh, Fayyum, Dumyat, Sharkeya, Luxor and Menufia [2].
France
The first outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza outside the département of Ain was confirmed by the French National Reference Laboratory on 4 March 2006. A swan found dead on 28 February 2006 in Saint-Mitres-les-remparts in the département of Bouches-de-Rhône tested positive for H5N1 infection [3].
Germany
As of 6 March 2006 cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been confirmed in wild birds in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. The majority of cases (125 out of 148) were found on Ruegen island in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania [4].
On 9 March 2006 the World Health Organization reported a case of H5N1 in a stone marten found on the island of Ruegen; it is the first documented case of H5N1 infection in the species [5]. This is the second mammalian species to become infected on the island of Ruegen following reports of H5N1 infection in cats on 28 February 2006 [6].
Hong Kong
Between 1 January and 25 February 2006 cases of avian influenza have been reported in wild birds in Tai Po, Sha Tau Kok Hoi, Wong Tai Sin, Sham Tseng, Tuen Mun, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Tsin Shui Wan, Wan chai, Cheung Sha Wan, Shek Kip Mei and Shoudon Hill [7].
India
An outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in birds on the border of Maharashtra and Gujarat State has been confirmed by the OIE on 8 March 2006. The outbreak spans both states and is the first H5N1 outbreak to be confirmed outside of Maharashtra State. Culling of poultry within 10 km of the affected area has been carried out and movement of goods in or out of the affected area has been banned [8].
Nigeria
On 2 March 2006 the OIE confirmed the first known outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Yobe State as well as new outbreaks in the already affected states of Bauchi, Kaduna, Kato, Katsina and Plateau [9]. On 5 March 2006 the OIE confirmed further outbreaks in Federal Capital Territory and Plateau state as well as the first reported outbreaks in Anambra, Benue and Rivers State [10]. There have now been outbreaks detected in over 130 farms in 11 of Nigeria’s states [11].
The majority of outbreaks have occurred in backyard or commercial farms. Poultry markets have been closed and infection and surveillance zones have been created. Movement of poultry products between infected and non-infected zones has been banned [9].
Poland
H5N1 avian influenza infection has been confirmed by the OIE in two swans found on the banks of the Vistula river in Torun. These are the first reported cases of H5N1 avian influenza in Poland; protective zones and movement controls are now in place [12].
Further possible cases of H5N1 avian influenza
Cases of H5 avian influenza have been confirmed by the OIE on a poultry farm in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan [13], in a wild swan found dead in a canal near Backi Monostor, Sombor, Zapadno Backi in Serbia and Montenegro [14] and in wild swans in Georgia [15]. Further investigation is required to determine whether these birds were infected with H5N1. There have also been unconfirmed reports of H5N1 infection in cats in Austria [16].
References
1. Organisation for Animal Health. Immediate notification of H5N1 - Albania, 7 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/Messages/060308ALB.htm
2. Organisation for Animal Health. Avian influenza follow-up report 1 - Egypt, 4 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Egypt%20_AI_0
3. The Department of Agriculture, France. Une nouveau case de cynge sauvage porteur de virus hautement pathogène dans le Bouches-de-Rhône, 4 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at (in French): http://www.agriculture.gouv.fr/spip/leministere.leministrelecabine
t.communiquesdepresse_a5829.html
4. Organisation for Animal Health. Avian influenza follow-up report 1 - Germany, 6 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Germany_AI_06
5. World Health Organization. Avian influenza - H5N1 found in a stone marten in Germany, 9 March 2006 [cited 10 March 2006] Available at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_03_09a/en/index.html
6. Organisation for Animal Health. Avian influenza in cat in Germany, March 2006 [cited 10 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_060301.htm
7. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. H5N1-infected wild birds found in Hong Kong in 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.afcd.gov.hk/news/news_e.htm
8. Organisation for Animal Health. Avian influenza follow-up report 2 - India, 8 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/India_AI_08_03
9. Organisation for Animal Health. Avian influenza follow-up report 2 - Nigeria, 2 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Nigeria_AI_02_
10. Organisation for Animal Health. Avian influenza follow-up report 3 - Nigeria, 5 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Nigeria_AI_05_
11. World Health Organisation. Avian influenza - Situation in Nigeria - Update 2, 9 March 2006 [cited 10 March 2006] Available at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_03_09/en/index.html
12. Organisation for Animal Health. Immediate notification of H5N1 - Poland, 8 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Polonia_AI_08_
13. Organisation for Animal Health. Immediate notification of H5 - Pakistan, 3 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/Messages/060303PAK.htm
14. Organisation for Animal Health. Immediate notification of H5 - Serbia and Montenegro, 2 March 2006 [cited 9 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Serbia_AI_02_0
15. Organisation for Animal Health. Immediate notification of H5 - Georgia, 9 March 2006 [cited 10 March 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Georgie_AI_09
16. ProMED mail. Avian influenza - Worldwide (44): Africa, Europe, 6 March 2006, [cited 9 February 2006] Available at: http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:1759305
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Links
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Update on avian influenza in animals. Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/A_AI-Asia.htm
Health Protection Agency. Avian Influenza. Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/avian/default
World Health Organization. Avian Influenza. Available at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
NaTHNaC. Avian influenza - advice for travellers to affected areas. 4 November 2006. Available at: http://www.NaTHNaC.org/pro/clinical_updates/avianinfluenza_advi
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