1 February 2007

Avian influenza in birds - Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Viet Nam

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). We are currently reporting when a country becomes newly infected, when new outbreaks occur following a long period with no cases, and when countries declare an avian influenza disease-free status.

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://gamapserver.who.int/mapLibrary/app/searchResults.aspx

Hong Kong

As of 25 January 2007, the OIE has received reports of H5N1 avian influenza in two wild birds in Hong Kong. The first was a scaly-breasted munia found dead in Causeway Bay on 7 January 2007 and the second a crested goshawk found dead in Shek Kip Mei [1]. The Hong Kong Government Information Centre has also issued a series of press releases detailing cases of H5N1 in one wild bird in Tsuen Wan [2], three wild birds in Sham Shui Po [2, 3] and one in San Po Kong [3]. These are the first cases reported since the outbreaks in wild birds in January and February 2006 [4].

Hungary 

The OIE have reported an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in a geese flock on a farm in Szentes, Csongrad. As of 23 January 2007, all the remaining flock have been culled and the premises have been disinfected [5, 6].

Japan

Three outbreaks of H5 avian influenza have been reported in Japan so far in 2007. The N subtype is yet to be reported and confirmation as to whether these outbreaks were due to the H5N1 virus is awaited. Two of the outbreaks of H5 avian influenza were in the Miyazaki prefecture, one beginning on 10 January 2007 on a farm in the town of Kiyotake and the second beginning on 22 January in Tougou [7]. The third outbreak was reported on 30 January 2007, and involved birds on a farm in Takahashi City, Okayama [8]. Movement controls are now in place, the farms have been disinfected and the flocks of birds culled [7, 8].

Republic of Korea 

Following the report of an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in broiler chickens in November in Iksan, Cholla-bukdo [9], a further four outbreaks have been reported in farms. Two further outbreaks have been reported in Cholla-bukdo, one in Iksan and one in the district of Kimje, 18km from the first outbreak [10]. On 22 December 2006, an outbreak was reported in ducks on a farm in Asan, in the province of Chungcheongnam-do. Another outbreak in the province of Chungcheongnam-do was reported on 21 January 2007 [11]. Movement controls are in place around the affected farms and all birds within a 3km radius of the farms have been culled.

Thailand 

On 15 January 2007 the OIE received the first notification of an outbreak of H5N1 in Thailand since the country was declared avian influenza-free in November 2006. The latest outbreak occurred in ducks on a farm in Muang, Phitsanulok. The affected area is being disinfected, there are movement controls in place and intensive surveillance is on-going [12].

Viet Nam

Since December 2006, 52 outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza have been reported in seven provinces of Viet Nam. As of 17 January 2007, there are 30 outbreaks considered unresolved. The outbreaks have occurred in the provinces of Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Hau Giang, Kein Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and Vinh Long. The affected areas have been quarantined and movement controls are in place [13].

Disease-free countries

Since the last NaTHNaC update [9], the following countries have issued their final report to the OIE after a gap of three or more months since the last registered case:

Pakistan, as of 5 November 2006 [14]

Romania, as of 1 October 2006 [15]

References

1. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Hong Kong follow-up report 1, 25 January 2007. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at:

http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_26.HTM#Sec10

2. Hong Kong Government Information Centre, Two birds test positive for H5N1 virus, 29 January 2007. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available online at: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200701/29/P200701290159.h

tm   

3.  Hong Kong Government Information Centre, Three birds test positive for H5N1 virus, 29 January 2007. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available online at: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200701/22/P200701220215.ht

m

4. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Hong Kong follow-up report 1 (final report), 20 March 2006. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at:

http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000004634_20070125_185739.pdf

5. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Hungary Immediate notification, 24 January 2007. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_imm_0000004627_20070125_122301.pdf

6. . World Organisation for Animal Health. Press release - H5N1 strain in Hungary is 99.4 percent same as last year, 30 January 2007. [Cited 1 February 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_070130_hungary.htm

7. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Japan Follow-up report 1, 26 January 2007, [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000004633_20070126_144457.pdf

8. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Japan Follow-up report 2, 30 January 2007, [Cited 31 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000004668_20070130_163956.pdf

9. NaTHNaC. Clinical update - Avian influenza in birds - Global update, 5 December 2006. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.NaTHNaC.org/pro/clinical_updates/flu_051206.htm

10. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Republic of Korea Follow-up report 1, 28 December 2006. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_64.HTM#Sec5

11. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Republic of Korea Follow-up report 4, 21 January 2007. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000004572_20070121_150154.pdf

12. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Thailand Immediate notification, 15 January 2007. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/downld/AVIAN%20INFLUENZA/Thailand_AI_15

_01_2007.pdf

13. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Viet Nam Follow-up report 2, 17 January 2007. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_fup_0000004544_20070117_112857.pdf

14. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Pakistan Final report, 22 December 2006. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at:  http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_64.HTM#Sec0

15. World Organisation for Animal Health. Influenza A (H5N1), Romania Final report, 21 December 2006. [Cited 30 January 2007]. Available at:  http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_65.HTM#Sec12

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

.htm

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 July 2006. Available at: http://www.NaTHNaC.org/pro/clinical_updates/avianinfluenza_advi

ce.htm