Friday, March 27, 2015

Media Reports: Bird Flu Detected In Romania & Italy

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# 9875

 

Yesterday’s bird flu report from Bulgaria, very near the Romanian border (see OIE: H5N1 Kills 21 Pelicans In Bulgaria) has been quickly followed by multiple media reports that dead pelicans found this week in Romania have now tested positive for the H5N1 virus as well.

 

If confirmed by the OIE, this would be the first appearance of H5N1 in Romania since 2010.

Bird flu in Romania. Authorities found infected pelicans in the Danube

BURCHAREST  Romanian authorities have found in the Danube Delta for more than six decades of dead pelicans and laboratory tests six bodies have confirmed the presence of avian influenza virus H5N1. Informed on Friday by Agerpres, citing the report of the State Veterinary Office.

According to information from this office was 64 dead pelicans already discovered on Wednesday 25 March. Six bodies were handed over to the following day tests at the Central Veterinary Laboratory for the control of food safety and confirmed the occurrence of the virus H5N1 in all samples.

According to experts, is now in the Danube Delta are also other kinds of birds, but apart from pelicans was found dead bodies of any of them.

Any dead birds are the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus). It is a migratory birds in this annual time migrate from Africa to the Danube Delta.

Romanian authorities announced that in connection with the occurrence of bird flu in the Danube Delta tightened veterinary supervision of bird populations. Introduced three kilometers around the outbreak protection zone and a ten-kilometer control zone.

(Continue . . . )

A second report indicates these birds were discovered in Tulcea County, Romania.

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Credit Wikipedia.

 

March 27, 2015 3:14 p.m.

Alert avian influenza in the Danube Delta. The virus was found in corpses of pelicans

Veterinary authorities in Tulcea County are on alert after Ceaplace island in the Danube Delta has been confirmed avian influenza virus. The disease was detected in several pelicans, found dead. The case came to the attention of Tulcea, after the island Ceaplace was notified that there are more dead pelicans. Inspectors have taken six corpses DSVSA Tulcea pelicans that have undergone testing. Following laboratory tests found the presence of avian influenza virus. These samples were sent for confirmation to the National Institute for Animal Health Diagnostic, which is the National Reference Laboratory for avian influenza. Integral on adevarul.ro

 


Meanwhile, a somewhat less informative media report out of Oppeano, Italy stating that `bird flu’ has broken out at a farm in the Veneto region, but without specifying the subtype of influenza.  Italy has reported H5N8, H5N1, and H7 subtypes previously, so we’ll probably  have to wait for an FAO or OIE notification to learn the cause of this outbreak.

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Credit Wikipedia

 

Outbreak of bird flu discovered in farm

It is a farm with an adjoining farm. Recommended immediate control measures with slaughter of all susceptible animals

OPPEANO - Discovered in a herd, also home to a farm , to Oppeano, an outbreak of avian influenza .
The Section veterinary and food safety of the region Veneto , with a note sent to the mayor of the town in the province of Verona and the veterinary service of ' Ulss 21 Legnago, has recommended the adoption of immediate measures to control, with slaughter of all susceptible animals and the destruction of carcasses and materials.


The positive virological and serological virus was confirmed by the National Reference Centre for the ' AI Institute zooprofilattico delle Venezie. " The positive virological - is written in the note of the Region - testifies to the presence of avian influenza in the company and the finding of only one out of 20 seropositive taken may indicate a recent introduction of virus ', which more so requires immediate action to prevent the disease from spreading.


A second report reads:


Outbreak of bird flu discovered on a farm

Alerting Oppeano in Veronese. The Health Authority of Legnago ordered the immediate slaughter of all the heads

OPPEANO .A outbreak of bird flu was discovered in a herd, also home to a farm, to Oppeano, in the province of Verona. Section veterinary and food safety of the region Veneto, with a note sent to the mayor of Oppeano and Veterinary Service Ulss 21 Legnago (Verona) recommended the adoption of immediate measures to control, with slaughter of all susceptible animals and the destruction of carcasses and materials. The National Reference Centre for Avian Influenza Institute of zooprofilattico venezie confirmed virological and serological positivity to the virus.

 

These past few months have seen a remarkable spread of HPAI H5 viruses around the world, arguably the most impressive geographic expansion of bird flu since the great H5N1 diaspora of 2006 (see H5N8: A Case Of Deja Flu?). 

 

Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America have all see either the return, or in some cases – the very first arrival – of these highly pathogenic viruses, and the losses to the poultry industry have been substantial. 

 

With the exception of Egypt’s record-setting H5N1 outbreak and occasional human cases in China, the impact on human health this winter been negligible.  Some of these viruses (H5N8 and H5N2) have no record of infecting humans, but as they are related to far less benign strains, they are viewed with understandable caution.

 

As these viruses spread through wild and migratory birds, and among commercial poultry, they have the potential to come in contact with other influenza viruses, and possibly reassort into new hybrids.  A process that could yield new subtypes with unpredictable results.