03/13/2010 (3:55 pm)
AFD - UK - Bird Flu (all types) in Animals, Poultry, Wild Birds
# 2043
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/
Earlier today there was an unconfirmed report of an outbreak of H7 bird flu in Banbury, Oxfordshire. At approximately 1pm EDT the wire services were reporting that Defra had confirmed the outbreak.
While the H7 strain of bird flu is considered less pathogenic than the H5 strain, it has been known to cause illness in humans as well as birds. Last year at least 4 people tested positive for the H7N2 virus after an outbreak in Wales.
This report from the Oxford Mail.
Bird flu outbreak confirmed (http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.2316493.0.bird_flu_outbreak_confirmed. php)
By Ellie Simmonds
(http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.2316493.0.bird_flu_outbreak_confirmed. php#comments_form)
The Government has confirmed an outbreak of bird flu near Banbury.
The Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said preliminary tests on chickens at a premises near the town were positive for the H7 strain.
All birds on the premises will be slaughtered as a precautionary measure.
http://adsadmin.newsquest.co.uk/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif (http://adsadmin.newsquest.co.uk/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.2316493.0.bird_flu_outbreak_confirmed. php/1231899524/Frame2/default/empty.gif/31383161306136393438333132373630)
A temporary control zone is being established around the infected premises.
A Government spokesman said all birds must be housed or otherwise isolated from contact with wild birds in the zone.
Defra is urgently considering whether any wider measures may be needed.
Mr Gibbens said: "I would stress the need for poultry keepers to be extremely vigilant, practice the highest levels of biosecurity and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health Office immediately."
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 1:20 PM (http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-h7-outbreak-confirmed.html)
# 2050
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/
Defra (Department for Environment Food Rural Affairs) has announced that the outbreak of avian influenza among poultry in Oxfordshire is due to the H7N7 virus.
While Britain has seen a handful of other H7 outbreaks (H7N2 and H7N3) over the past few years, this appears to be the first documented outbreak of the H7N7 strain in that country.
In 2003 there was an outbreak of this strain among poultry in the Netherlands where 89 people were confirmed infected by the virus. Most exhibited mild symptoms, although one person died.
This is the statement from Defra.
Avian Influenza H7N7 confirmed in Oxfordshire (http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2008/animal-0605.htm)
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/images/mapsml-080604.jpg (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/declaration-pzsz-080604.pdf)
On 3 June, Avian Influenza was confirmed in laying hens at a farm in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The strain is highly pathogenic H7N7. Preliminary analysis also indicates that this H7N7 strain is likely to be related to viruses which have occasionally been detected in domestic poultry and wild birds elsewhere in Europe. Further laboratory tests are in progress.
A Protection Zone of 3km and a Surveillance Zone of 10km have been established and bird gatherings and movement restrictions apply within these zones. More information on restrictions (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/movements/index.htm).
It is vital that all bird keepers in the UK continue to practice the highest levels of biosecurity and be vigilant for any signs of disease. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek advice from your vet. If you suspect that your birds have Avian Influenza, you should report it to your local Animal Health Office (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/about-us/contact-us/animal-health-offices.htm) immediately.
The Health Protection Agency has advised that H7N7 avian flu remains largely a disease of birds and the risk to human health is low.
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 5:06 AM (http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-outbreak-identified-as-h7n7.html)
# 2047
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/
This update comes from the UK's Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) website.
While outbreaks of H7 strains of bird flu have occurred in Britain before, they have always been characterized as `low pathogenic', or one that causes less mortality and morbidity among poultry.
Obviously, highly pathogenic viruses are of greater concern to the poultry industry and to public health officials. While the risk to humans from the H7 virus has historically been low, it is not zero.
Local health departments will reportedly track down contacts (http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0604/breaking52.htm) with the infected birds and offer antiviral medication where appropriate.
The exact strain that has emerged in Oxfordshire, apparently, has not yet been determined.
A Hat tip to Niman on Flutrackers (http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/index.php) for posting this.
Update on Avian Influenza in Oxfordshire: H7 strain confirmed as Highly Pathogenic (http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080604c.htm)
Following further laboratory results, the Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed that the strain of H7 Avian Influenza present in laying hens at the farm in Banbury is highly pathogenic.
Further laboratory tests are in progress to identify the N type and possible relationships with previously identified viruses. A detailed epidemiological investigation to better understand the origin and development of the disease is also underway.
The 3km inner and 10km outer Temporary Control Zone was established on 3 June with measures appropriate to a highly pathogenic strain. These measures remain in place and existing restrictions continue to apply.
These restrictions include the housing or otherwise isolation from contact with wild birds in the inner 3km zone. All bird gatherings in the Temporary Control Zone are banned. Other movements of birds and some products are also banned in the whole of the Temporary Control Zone. Defra is urgently considering whether any wider measures may be needed. Please see the Defra website for detailed information on the restrictions.
The Health Protection Agency has confirmed that the risk to public health remains low. The Food Standards Agency has also confirmed that there are no safety implications for the human food chain.
Poultry keepers are urged to be extremely vigilant, practice the highest levels of biosecurity and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health Office immediately.
Notes to editors
1. AI viruses are categorized according to the ability to cause severe disease (pathogenicity) in avian species as either highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI) or low pathogenic (LPAI).
2. Further information can be found on the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk (http://www.defra.gov.uk/)
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 8:54 AM (http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-h7-outbreak-highly-pathogenic.html)
# 2068
Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has always been a bit reluctant to test small numbers of dead birds for the H5N1 virus, but it still comes as a bit of a surprise when 7 dead swans don't rate a second look.
After all, swans have been viewed as sentinel birds for avian flu, and earlier this year the Abbotsbury Swannery saw a small but steady progression of dead Swans infected with the bird flu virus.
Over the past couple of days 7 dead swans have been detected in Caernarfon, a town in Gwynedd, northwest Wales.
After initially declining to test the dead swans, and telling the harbor master to `safely bag up the birds in black bin liners and throw them into a waste bin', Defra has now agreed to test these birds for the avian flu virus.
Swans tested for bird flu in Caernarfon (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/06/13/swans-tested-for-bird-flu-55578-21067166/)
Jun 13 2008
by Hywel Trewyn, Daily Post
BIRD flu tests will be carried out today on seven swans found dead in a river near Caernarfon.
The carcasses were discovered floating in the Seiont not far from the town’s historic castle.
Locals alerted harbour master Richard Jones on Wednesday, and his team recovered three dead swans in the morning, followed by four more in the afternoon.
Yesterday the team were back at the riverbank after residents reported another swan appeared to be ill.
Mr Jones said he was initially advised by Defra that the government would not test for bird flu in cases involving less than 10 dead wild birds.
He was advised to safely bag up the birds in black bin liners and throw them into a waste bin.
But last night the Welsh Assembly confirmed experts would test the carcasses today, as part of the avian flu surveillance programme.
They stressed at this stage there was no evidence bird flu could be the cause of death.
The harbour master and his team were baffled as to how the animals had died. The Environment Agency said as there were no dead fish in the river, it was not believed they had been poisoned.
(Cont.) (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/06/13/swans-tested-for-bird-flu-55578-21067166/)
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 6:58 AM (http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-testing-dead-swans-in-wales.html)
# 2078
Defra (Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs) has released a preliminary epidemiological report on the H7N7 outbreak in Oxfordshire, that states as of June 11th the outbreak was confined to one farm.
Various theories are being examined to try to determine how the highly pathogenic virus appeared at this farm. One thought is it may have `evolved' from a low path H7N7 virus.
Investigations are ongoing.
A Hat tip to Shiloh on Flutrackers (http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/index.php) for leading me to this report.
NEWS RELEASE
Ref: 190/08
Date: 17 June 2008
Avian influenza epidemiology report published (http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080617c.htm)
Defra has today published an epidemiology report into the Avian Influenza outbreak confirmed in Oxfordshire on 4 June.
The report concludes that, at the time of writing (11 June), the outbreak is confined to a single premises, and there is no evidence of infection in the Protection Zone or of spread to any other premises. However, investigations continue.
The report suggests that it is possible that the Highly Pathogenic H7N7 Avian influenza derived from a Low Pathogenic strain already present on the farm, analysis and investigations are ongoing, and a number of source hypotheses are being considered.
Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, said
“The UK is at a constant but low level of risk of the introduction of Avian Influenza, and the report highlights the need for flock owners and poultry vets to remain vigilant for signs of disease, including the possibility of low pathogenic Avian Influenza. I would encourage all keepers to maintain good quality records and practise high standards of biosecurity.”
The Protection and Surveillance Zones remain in place. Further surveillance, testing and epidemiological work on this outbreak are ongoing.
The report can be viewed Here (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/epi-report080617.pdf)
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 10:19 AM (http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-defra-update-on-oxfordshire-h7n7.html)
# 2083
Late last week there was a report (http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-testing-dead-swans-in-wales.html) of 8 swan deaths in Wales, in the town of Caernarfon. Defra (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) was initially reluctant to test the birds, but relented after local concerns were voiced.
Today, while no cause of death has yet been determined, we are told it wasn't bird flu.
Caernarfon swan deaths: It wasn’t bird flu (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/06/18/caernarfon-swan-deaths-it-wasn-t-bird-flu-55578-21092230/)
Jun 18 2008 by Hywel Trewyn, Daily Post
SCIENTISTS who tested eight dead swans found in a river in Caernarfon have ruled out bird flu as a cause.
The bodies of the birds were found in a stretch of water along the Afon Seiont, last week within a few hundred yards of the town’s historic castle.
Locals alerted Caernarfon harbour master Richard Jones who, with members of his team, went out in a boat to collect and bag the stinking carcasses.
They were then taken to a Defra lab in Shrewsbury where they were taken to be tested for bird flu.
Last night a National Assembly spokeswoman said that tests were continuing to find out exactly why the birds had died.
It is not thought pollution was to blame, as no fish were found to be affected.
She said: “Tests carried out on the swans from the river Seiont in Caernarfon have ruled out bird flu.
(Cont. ) (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/06/18/caernarfon-swan-deaths-it-wasn-t-bird-flu-55578-21092230/)
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 8:15 AM (http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-report-caernarfon-swan-deaths-not.html)
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