Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Voice Of Iraq: H5N1 Reported in Sulaimaniya Poultry

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Sulaymaniyah Governorate  - Credit Wikipedia

 

# 10,047

 

 

Via the Voice of Iraq, we get a report indicating that H5N1 has been detected in `a number of poultry farms’  in Sulaymaniyah, a province in Iraqi Kurdistan along the Iranian border.  Assuming this is confirmed by the OIE, this would be the first time Iraq has reported H5N1 since the summer of 2006.


The use of the word `injuries’ below likely refers to poultry, not humans.  Machine translations such as these often produce syntax-challenged results.

 

 

Kurdistan cultivation announces registration of bird flu infections in Sulaimaniya


Wed May 13 2015 5:46 p.m. | (Voice of Iraq) - Erbil, announced the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kurdistan region, on Wednesday, for the registration of some infections of bird flu in the province of Sulaymaniyah, and while confirming that the situation is under control, stressed the importance of cooperation between government agencies and citizens. said Minister farming region Abdul Sattar Majid at a press conference, today, in Erbil that "after conducting tests on a number of poultry farms in Bermkron area in the Sulaymaniyah turns out the presence of injuries Pfyrus H5N1 (bird flu)," noting that "it was to inform the Council of Ministers is aware of this Injuries. "

Majid explained that "has been the formation of a higher committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Interior and Health and municipalities in order to limit and control the injuries," asserting that "the injuries recorded in three villages only and under control." He pointed out that "these injuries and serious need to educate citizens." , while stressing "the importance of cooperation between citizens and government agencies concerned." And that "the Supreme Committee decided to form committees at the provincial level to control and limit injuries if they arise," calling on the media to "deal with the issue realistically and objectively and not spreading fear among citizens . "

The World Health Organization defines as the bird flu virus contagious disease of birds (especially water birds such as wild ducks and geese) does not cause, in most cases, in the emergence of any satisfactory marks. And flu viruses can sometimes go to the poultry and cause outbreaks and tent on a large scale. Reports also indicate that some of these viruses were able to penetrate the species barrier and cause diseases or infections is accompanied by clinical symptoms in humans or other mammals. The suffering of the United States of America is currently the spread of the disease, has invaded 16 states until the moment of writing this report. Reports said that the number of HIV-infected poultry in the United States amounted to about 32 million, which has been eliminated and the other waiting for the same fate.

 

Over the past 6 months – in addition to the huge territorial gains racked up by HPAI H5N8 and H5N2 – we’ve seen a huge resurgence in H5N1 activity around the world as well.  

 

Not only has Egypt reported the largest, and longest, outbreak of H5N1 in humans - countries that have not reported the virus in years (i.e. Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, etc.) have reported outbreaks either in poultry, or wild birds.

 

Why HPAI H5 viruses have suddenly taken flight over the winter of 2014-15 isn’t clear, but we’ve not seen this level of bird flu activity since the great H5N1 diaspora of 2005-2006 (see H5N8: A Case Of Deja Flu?).   As summer is historically the `off season’ for avian flu viruses, one can’t help but wonder what kind of fall lies ahead.

 

Meanwhile, there are media reports of additional `suspected’ cases of H5N1 in Turkey as well today.