10 April 2007

Avian influenza in birds – Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia

It is the policy of NaTHNaC to post reports of avian influenza A/H5N1 outbreaks in animals once they have been officially reported to the Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has posted maps of the current epidemiology of avian influenza based on information from OIE and national governments.  Maps delineating avian outbreaks by time period and geographic region can be viewed at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/.

WHO have also published a timeline of major events of H5N1 avian influenza that outlines both human and animals occurrences of avian influenza [1].

Bangladesh

On 30 March 2007, the OIE received notification of three outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry. These are the first outbreaks reported from Bangladesh. The outbreaks occurred on farms in the Dhaka and Jamalpur districts of the Dhaka division. The two outbreaks in Jamalpur occurred on relatively small farms, with 1,000 and 2,800 birds respectively. The outbreak in Dhaka, however, involved a large commercial farm with 32,000 birds, 12,000 of which were infected [2]. Movement controls are now in place and the affected farms are being disinfected.

Pakistan

Following the outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza reported in the previous NaTHNaC update [3], further outbreaks have been reported in the North West Frontier Province. On 20 March 2007 two outbreaks were reported in Peshawar, one in backyard poultry in a village and one in pigeons and peacocks in a backyard farm / zoo [4]. On 31 March 2007, four more outbreaks were reported in poultry in North West Frontier Province, three in Abbottabad and one in Mansehra [5]. All poultry within a 3km zone are being vaccinated and the affected premises are being disinfected.

Russia

As of 19 March 2007, two outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza have been reported in backyard poultry in Krasnogvardeisk in Adygeya Republic [6]. Movement controls are in place, poultry are being vaccinated, and affected premises are being disinfected.

Saudi Arabia

On 31 March 2007 the OIE received notification of the country’s first outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Saudi Arabia. The outbreak was in birds in the Al Katief district of Ash Sharqiyah [7]. Movement controls are in place and birds have been culled in the affected area.

References

1. World Health Organization. H5N1 avian influenza: Timeline of major events. 2 April 2007. On-line resource. Available at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/timeline2007_04

_02.pdf

2. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Bangladesh, Immediate Notification, 30 March 2007. [Cited 3 April 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_imm_0000005154_20070330_184220.pdf

3. National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC). Clinical update - Avian influenza in birds – Afghanistan, China (Tibet), Kuwait, Laos, Myanmar, Viet Nam, 19 March 2007. [Cited 3 April 2007]. Available at: http://www.nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/flu_190307.htm

4. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Pakistan, Follow-up Report 2, 20 March 2007. [Cited 3 April 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000005067_20070321_151606.pdf

5. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Pakistan, Follow-up Report 3, 20 March 2007. [Cited 3 April 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000005161_20070402_142044.pdf

6. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Russia, Follow-up Report 3, 19 March 2007. [Cited 3 April 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000005064_20070320_165918.pdf

7. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Saudi Arabia, Immediate Notification, 31 March 2007. [Cited 3 April 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_imm_0000005160_20070402_131947.pdf