5 May 2006

 

Avian influenza - Côte d’Ivoire, Myanmar, Switzerland

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). At present there are unconfirmed outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in several countries and reports on these outbreaks will be listed on the NaTHNaC Website as and when they are confirmed by the OIE.

Côte d’Ivoire

On 27 April 2006 the OIE received a report of H5N1 infection in Côte d’Ivoire. In the village of Marcory Anoumabo, Abidjan district, Lagunes an outbreak on a backyard farm is thought to have started on 30 March 2006. Seven chickens and ten ducks from this farm have tested positive for the H5N1 virus. A wild sparrowhawk found dead on 31 March 2006 in the village of Treichville in Abidjan has also tested positive for H5N1. A public awareness campaign has been launched and movement controls on poultry are in place. A surveillance zone has been implemented throughout the district of Abidjan [1].

Myanmar

The outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Mandalay previously reported on 17 March 2006 [2] has continued to spread. On 27 April 2006 a total of 78 outbreaks starting between 8 March and 25 April 2006 were reported to the OIE, all of which occurred in chickens and quails. Between 8 March and 25 April 2006 multiple outbreaks have occurred on farms in six townships of the Mandalay district in the Mandalay province and between the 16 March and 25 April 2006 outbreaks have also been reported in farms in the district of Shwebo and Monywa in the Sagaing province [3].

Switzerland

On 24 April 2006 the OIE reported five cases of H5N1 in wild freshwater birds found in Switzerland. The birds were found between 6 and 10 March 2006 in the cantons of Zurich and Schaffhausen [4]. This is the first report of H5N1 infection in the canton of Schaffhausen although H5N1 has been reported previously in Zurich, Geneva and Thurgau [2, 5].

References

1. Organisation for Animal Health. Avian influenza in Cote d’Ivoire, 27 April 2006 [cited 5 May 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_21.HTM#Sec4

2. NaTHNaC. Avian influenza - Cameroon, Myanmar, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, 17 March 2006 [cited 5 May 2006] Available at: http://www.NaTHNaC.org/pro/clinical_updates/flu_170306.htm

3. Organisation for Animal Health. Follow up report No. 2 - Myanmar, 27 April 2006 [cited 5 May 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_21.HTM#Sec7 

4. Organisation for Animal Health. Follow up report No. 4 - Switzerland, 25 April 2006 [cited 5 May 2006] Available at: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/aIS_21.htm#Sec13

5. NaTHNaC. Avian influenza - Cameroon, Myanmar, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, 17 March 2006 [cited 5 May 2006] Available at: http://www.NaTHNaC.org/pro/clinical_updates/flu_030306.htm

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. 7 April 2006. Available at: http://www.NaTHNaC.org/travel/news/avianinfluenza_trave ladvice_070406.htm