Poultrymed | Infectious Diseases 2012

Australia: Outbreak of Campylobacter infection associated with chicken liver pâté

31.12.2012

In July 2012, an outbreak of Campylobacter infection was investigated by the South Australian Communicable Disease Control Branch and Food Policy and Programs Branch. The initial notification identified illness at a surprise birthday party held at a restaurant on 14 July 2012. The objective of the investigation was to identify the potential source of infection and institute appropriate intervention strategies to prevent further illness.A guest list was obtained and a retrospective cohort study undertaken. A combination of paper-based and telephone questionnaires were used to collect exposure and outcome information. An environmental investigation was conducted by Food Policy and Programs Branch at the implicated premises.

Newcastle Disease in Czech Republic

28.12.2012

A second outbreak of avian paramyxovirus has been diagnosed in Ostrava. The outbreak of avian paramyxovirus was initially reported in a flock of backyard pigeons in Stredocesky, last week.

Germany: Low pathogenic avian influenza H5

21.12.2012

A case of avian influenza H5, (LPAI) was diagnosed in an organic farm in Tangstedt (Stormarn, Schleswig-Holstein). All birds were destroyed (1522).

Czech Republic: Newcastle Disease reported in pigeons

19.12.2012

An outbreak of Newcastle disease has been reported in a flock of pigeons in Horní Slivno (STREDOCESKÝ). The report describes an outbreak of Newcastle disease in a backyard flock on 100 village pigeons in Horní Slivno in the region of Stredoceský in central Czech Republic. There were 40 cases, of which 30 birds died; the survivors have been destroyed.

Salmonellosis in Poland

18.12.2012

Przeql Epidemiol (2012)

A total of 9,732 salmonellosis cases were reported in Poland in 2010. Among them 8,549 cases were intestinal and 183 were extraintestinal. The incidence rate was 25.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. The most common etiologic agent in Poland is Salmonella enteritidis. When compared to previous years, in 2010 there was an increase in the number of cases caused by S. Mbandaka, S. Infantis and S. Virchow.

Indonesia: avian influenza kills 4-year-old boy

17.12.2012

A 4-year-old Indonesian boy has died from avian influenza, bringing the death toll to 160 in the country hardest-hit by the deadly virus. The boy died Dec. 6 in Tangerang city, just west of Jakarta, the capital.

Newcastle Disease Spreads in Israel

17.12.2012

Ein Ashlosha: 6-week-old turkeys (24,000 birds). Ashdot Ya'acov: Two flocks of turkeys in the same area. 1st flock: 35,000 16-week-old male turkeys. The females in the same flock were slaughtered on 5 December 2012. In the slaughterhouse changes were observed in the lungs and samples were sent to the laboratory. 2nd flock: 38,000 8-week-old turkeys. The birds in both flocks did not show any clinical signs; PCR- Positive. Quarantine has been applied. Brosh: 9-10 weeks old turkeys. Rahat: 4 weeks old broilers. Qelahim: 6 weeks old broilers. The flock was slaughtered on 17 December 2012.

Wind-mediated transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza

14.12.2012

Ypma et al (2012) J Infect Dis

This study provides statistical evidence that the direction of spread of avian influenza A(H7N7) is correlated with the direction of wind at date of infection. The researchers find the direction of spread by reconstructing the transmission tree for a large outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003, using detailed genetic and epidemiological data.

Antigenic drift in H5N1 viruses in Egypt

14.12.2012

Younan et al (2012) Emerging Infectious Diseases

An analysis of H5N1 avian influenza strains isolated from Egyptian patients from 2007 through 2011 found little evidence of reassortment but substantial antigenic drift, according to a report in Emerging Infectious Diseases. All analyzed viruses evolved from the lineage of subtype H5N1 viruses introduced into Egypt in 2006; the US and Egyptian investigators found minimal evidence of reassortment and no exotic introductions. The hemagglutinin genes of the viruses from 2011 formed a monophyletic group within clade 2.2.1 that also included human viruses from 2009 and 2010 and contemporary viruses from poultry; this finding is consistent with zoonotic transmission.

A virulent avian influenza H5N1 found in Indonesia

12.12.2012

A poultry breeders’ association had reported the death of more than 300,000 ducks in several provinces on Java island since November to the ministry. The Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health in a circular letter explained that the duck deaths were caused by HPAI disease, subtype H5N1 with a clade 2.3, sub-clade 2.3.2.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella in Japanese broiler flocks

11.12.2012

Sasaki et al (2012) Epidemiol Infect 140:2074-81

This study determined the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolated from broiler flocks in Japan. Caecal dropping samples were collected from 288 broiler flocks between November 2007 and February 2010. Salmonella was prevalent in 248 (86•1%) broiler flocks. The top three serovars were S. Infantis, S. Manhattan and S. Schwarzengrund. S. Infantis was found in all regions tested in this study.

Denmark: Salmonella in Danish eggs and poultry haven’t been this low since the late 1980s

10.12.2012

DTU Food

New data shows that salmonella in Danish poultry has been eradicated. However, pork is still problematic Denmark has taken a leading role on the international stage in relation to combating salmonella. This is evident from a journalistic analysis of the factors which have affected Danish efforts in these areas since the 1990s.The analysis was carried out by Kontrabande and commissioned by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.

Newcastle Disease in Nicaragua

10.12.2012

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in Nicaragua has been reported to the OIE. The outbreak is in the Community Los Jirones, where there was a population of 899 birds. According to the owners of the birds, the animals showed neurological signs: torticollis and motor incoordination;

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) H5 epidemic in Italy

10.12.2012

Epidemiological Situation: In September-October 2012, H5N2 outbreaks occurred in both industrial and rural poultry sectors. 3 outbreaks were identified in commercial sector. From the 2nd of October till the 30th of November 5 more outbreaks of LPAI H5 subtype were detected: On 4th October 2012 the NRL confirmed positive results for H5 LPAI virus in 3 industrial farms (i.e., fattening turkeys) in Mantua province. On 8th October the NRL confirmed one more positive result in a industrial farm of fattening turkeys in Mantua Province. On 18th October the NRL confirmed positive results in a rural farm in Rome Province.

The “decline and fall” of non‐typhoidal Salmonella in the United Kingdom

08.12.2012

O’Brien, University of Liverpool Institute of Infection and Global Health (2012)

Remarkable changes in the epidemiology of human non‐typhoidal salmonellosis have occurred in the UK over the last century. Between 1981 and 1991, the incidence of non‐typhoidal salmonellosis in the UK rose by more than 170%, driven primarily by an epidemic of Salmonella enterica subsp. Enteritidis phage type (PT) 4, which peaked in 1993. Measures introduced to control this epidemic included legislation, food safety advice and an industry‐led vaccination programme in broiler breeder and laying poultry flocks. The incidence of S. Enteritidis has been falling since 1997 and levels of S. Enteritidis PT4 have fallen to pre‐epidemic levels and have stayed low.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza Detected in Taiwan

07.12.2012

The farm with ~800 chickens in outlying Penghu County was confirmed to have been infected with the HPAI H5N2 virus. Clinical suspected cases were notified by the owner because of the abnormal mortality rate. The local government conducted movement restriction, epidemiological investigation and sampling on the index native chicken farm and destroyed all chickens as the measure for precaution on 22 November 2012 in accordance with its authority.

FSIS: New Poultry Rules to Prevent Salmonella and Campylobacter

06.12.2012

USDA Announces New Prevention-based Efforts to Improve Safety of Poultry Products and Protect Consumers. Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced new steps to protect consumers by improving the food safety plans required for companies that produce poultry products. Companies producing raw ground chicken and turkey and similar products will be required to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans. The HACCP reassessment, which establishments must conduct in the next 90 days, must account for several Salmonella outbreaks that were associated with those types of products.

Newcastle Disease Outbreak in Israel

05.12.2012

Newcastle disease has been diagnosed in a breeding farm in Israel. The affected birds are 33-week-old broiler breeders at a farm in Mashabei-Sade (Southern Israel). There are four pens of 10,000 birds in each. Drop in lay was observed in two of the pens. Since the pens are isolated and the biosecurity is very high it was decided, not to cull the birds.

Drug-Resistant Staph Bacteria Found on 8% of Dutch Broiler Farms

01.12.2012

The Dutch food-safety authority found methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), on 8 percent of broiler farms in a survey. The bacteria was found in chicks and stable dust, the authority wrote in a report on its website. Infected animals can sometimes transmit the resistant bacteria to humans, according to the authority.

Avian influenza kills 4,000 wild ducks in Russia

30.11.2012

Around 4,000 wild ducks have been found dead in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, due to H5 avian influenza. The dead birds have been found on lakes near the Black Sea resort town of Anapa.

Israel: two new outbreaks of Newcastle disease

29.11.2012

Two new outbreaks of Newcastle disease were reported lately in Israel. 1. Sdei Trumot: A village in the Beit Shean Valley. 2. Gilat: A village in southern Israel.

Zoonotic transmission of C. psittaci in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong

28.11.2012

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health yasterday (November 27) provided an update on its joint investigation with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) into an outbreak of psittacosis respiratory disease involving five AFCD male staff working in the New Territories North Animal Management Centre (NTNAMC) in Sheung Shui. A CHP spokesman said that the respiratory specimens from three patients (a 55-year-old patient at Queen Mary Hospital, a 62-year-old patient in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and a 27-year-old patient who has been discharged from Yan Chai Hospital) tested positive for Chlamydophila psittaci by polymerase chain reaction. So far, a total of five AFCD staff working in the NTNAMC have developed respiratory symptoms (mostly pneumonia) requiring admission to hospitals. One has recovered and the other four are currently in hospitals.

Zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium meleagridis on an organic Swedish farm

26.11.2012

Silverlas et al (2012) Int J Parasitol 42:963-967

This study presents the first evidence of zoonotic transmission of a bird parasite, Cryptosporidium meleagridis. Despite being the third most common cause of human cryptosporidiosis, an identified zoonotic source has not been reported to date. By DNA analysis this group of researchers found C. meleagridis in samples from one human, three chickens and one hen.

China: Virulent Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus

23.11.2012

Feng et al (2012) Emerging Infectious Diseases. 18:1994-2001

A Chinese group of researchers found a virulent avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) that was isolated from 30-day-old broiler chickens that exhibited respiratory symptoms, nephropathologic lesions, and a high proportion of deaths in the People’s Republic of China during 2005. The strain, designated YN, was genetically and pathologically characterized. Phylogenetic analysis showed that YN and most of the previously characterized IBV isolates found in China were phylogenetically classiﬁed into 2 main genetic clusters. The YN isolate caused severe lesions and resulted in deaths of 65% in experimental infections of 30-day-old speciﬁc-pathogen–free chickens.

Taiwan: H5N2 LPAI

23.11.2012

Animal health officials have imposed a ban on the movement of chickens at a layer chicken farm in the south that has been infected with low-pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza. Wong Yo-chu, director of the Chiayi County Government’s Animal Disease Control Center, said his agency would not allow 15,700 chickens at the farm in Pu-Zih to be moved off the premises, but they would be kept alive.

Egyptian H5N1 Influenza Viruses

19.11.2012

Nov 15 PLoS Pathogens

Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses are now enzootic in parts of Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Since lack of the HA154–156 glycosylation site appears to be critical for H5 virus transmission in mammals, a group of researchers inspected avian H5N1 viruses from Egypt for this feature. Closer inspection of 2009–2011 H5N1 viruses from Egypt revealed that >70% of Egyptian isolates lack the HA154–156 glycosylation site. The H5N1 viruses currently circulating in Egypt are descendants of the so-called Qinghai Lake viruses that killed wild.

Australia: Highly pathogenic avian influenza

15.11.2012

H7N7 Avian Influenza virus has been confirmed in a flock of 50,000 layer hens in the lower Hunter Valley, near Maitland. New South Wales, Australia. A Restricted Area of 3 km diameter surrounded by 7 km diameter Control Area has been established around the property, which is under quarantine restriction. Tracing is underway.

Salmonella gallinarum in North Ireland

10.11.2012

A total of 125,000 birds were culled at Ready Egg Products at Manor Waterhouse in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. A further 60,000 hens were slaughtered on Wednesday (07/11) following a second suspected outbreak of Salmonella gallinarum, at another farm in the Lisnaskea area.

Fowl typhoid in Northern Ireland

01.11.2012

Source: farming UK

More than 125,000 laying hens have been culled at a farm in Northern Ireland following the discovery of Salmonella gallinarum. A total of 125,000 birds were culled in a cage unit run by Ready Egg Products in Fermanagh when the owner, Charles Crawford, received confirmation of an outbreak of Salmonella gallinarum. The outbreak was officially confirmed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).

India: 3,600 turkeys die of avian influenza in 13 days at Hesarghatta

27.10.2012

About 3,600 Turkeys have died of avian influenza (H5N1) at the Central Poultry Development Organisation farm at Hesaragatta on the city outskirts. Following continuous deaths of turkeys, the Central Poultry Development and Organization (CPDO) sent samples of blood to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, which confirmed avian influenza.

Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis: increasing incidence of domestically acquired infections

27.10.2012

Chai et al (2012) Clin Infect Dis,54 Suppl 5:S488-97

Salmonella enterica causes an estimated 1 million cases of domestically acquired foodborne illness in humans annually in the United States; Enteritidis (SE) is the most common serotype. A group of researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), analyzed the incidence of human SE infection during 1996-2009 in the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), an active, population-based surveillance system for laboratory-confirmed infections. They compared FoodNet incidence with passively collected data from complementary surveillance systems and with rates of SE isolation from processed chickens and egg products; shell eggs are not routinely tested. They also compared molecular subtyping patterns of SE isolated from humans and chickens.

Mexico: The H7N3 avian influenza outbreak has been totally controlled

26.10.2012

Mexico says an outbreak of the H7N3 avian influenza virus in western Mexico has been “totally controlled” after 68 days without any reports of new cases. President Felipe Calderon said that more than 22 million hens had been slaughtered throughout the country since efforts to contain the outbreak were announced in July.

Bangladesh: avian influenza immunization program

20.10.2012

The Drug Administration authorities have given permission to import avian influenza vaccine to start immunization program experimentally aiming to prevent the deadly virus from spreading to local poultry industry in Bangladesh. The government's drug regulatory authority allowed three drug importing companies to import avian influenza vaccine from the US, the Netherlands and China. The vaccination will begin experimentally in Gazipur district and partly in one poultry hatchery and five firms in Kishorganj in Dhaka division. Meanwhile, the number of farms has come down to 60,824 from 114,763 during the last one and a half years following the spread of avian influenza.

Vietnam: avian influenza is spreading

19.10.2012

According to the Vietnamese Department of Animal Health, avian influenza H5N1 outbreaks have been detected in the northern and central provinces of Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Quang Ngai, Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang, where more than 180,000 chickens and ducks have been culled so far. The strain belongs to a subclade of the 2.3.2.1 clade that infected poultry in Vietnam in 2011. The new strain appeared in July and took just one month to spread from north to central Vietnam.

UK: Salmonella found in liquid egg product

16.10.2012

The Health Protection Agency

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has seen seven cases of Salmonella Enteritidis PT1 following consumption of a pasteurised liquid egg product which was sold through Myprotein® and Nutri Centre websites and Nutri Centre stores. Testing of a sample of the product also showed a positive result for the same type of salmonella.

Multidrug resistant clones of Salmonella Infantis of broiler origin in Europe

16.10.2012

International Journal of Food Microbiology (2012) 157:108-112

The analysis of the EU baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella in broiler flocks in the EU 2005–2006, prepared by the EFSA identified that the three most frequently isolated Salmonella serovars from broiler flocks in the European Union were, in decreasing order, S. Enteritidis (37.1%), S. Infantis (20.4%) and S. Mbandaka (7.9%). The first two serovars are also frequent causes of Salmonella infections in people. Among EU Member states, Hungary had the highest rate of S. Infantis (64% flock prevalence) in broilers, followed by Poland with 8%, and Czech Republic with 2.5% flock prevalence.

Italy: 3 outbreaks of H5 LPAI subtype, summary

13.10.2012

Following the identification of H5N2 LPAI virus in Meat turkey holdings in Lombardia Region, Italian Ministry of Health strengthen the monitoring activities in Veneto, Lombardia, Piemonte and Emilia-Romagna on industrial holdings and commercial farms. 3 outbreaks of H5 LPAI subtype were identified.

Newcastle Disease in Romania

12.10.2012

The Romanian veterinary authorities have reported a case of Newcastle disease to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The report, dated 12 October, covers a single outbreak of Newcastle disease in Tohanu Vechi (Brasov).

South Africa: H5N2 reported in an ostrich farm

04.10.2012

Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has been reported on South African ostrich farm, infecting 1,286 of 1,930 birds but not causing any deaths. The outbreak, in Western Cape province near the southernmost tip of the country, began in June, but at first the ostriches showed no clinical signs. Culling efforts on the commercial farm have begun.

Report: Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) H5N2 in Lombardia and Toscana Regions, Italy

28.09.2012

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie

Outbreak in Toscana region • 11/08/2012: a poultry veterinarian notified a suspected case of avian influenza in a backyard flock in the Municipality of Prato (Toscana region). Flock size: • 1 turkey • 12 ducks • 34 geese • 100 laying hens • 21 guinea fowls • Abnormal mortality (around 30%) • 04/09/2012: LPAI virus, subtype H5N2.

LPAI in the Netherlands

28.09.2012

Netherlands, Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority Ministry

Notification 8 August 2012: NVWA receives notification from Laboratory GD Animal health Service found >30% AI positive serology samples from the general monitoring program in organic poultry farms with laying hens. These samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory for confirmation. 30 out of 30 samples positive on H7.

Spread of Influenza Virus A (H5N1) Clade 2.3.2.1 to Bulgaria in Common Buzzards

25.09.2012

Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal (2012) 18:1596-1602

Wild aquatic birds are considered natural reservoirs of all known influenza virus subtypes. On March 15, 2010, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was isolated from the carcass of a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) in Bulgaria. Phylogenetic analyses of the virus showed a close genetic relationship with influenza virus A (H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1 viruses isolated from wild birds in the Tyva Republic and Mongolia during 2009–2010.

Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Stanley infections

22.09.2012

EFSA - ECDC

Salmonella enterica serovar Stanley (S. Stanley) is one of the serovars most frequently associated with human infections in south-east Asia. S. Stanley was the second most common serovar in human salmonellosis in Thailand in the years 2002 to 2007, accounting for 11% of all salmonellosis cases there. In 2011, an outbreak of S. Stanley infection occurred in Austria due to the consumption of turkey kebabs. An outbreak of Salmonella Stanley infection involving 167 confirmed and 254 probable cases is on-going in several Member States of the European Union (EU). As cases do not have travel history outside the EU within the usual incubation period for salmonellosis, these findings strongly suggest a multi-state outbreak currently taking place in several countries in the EU. The descriptive epidemiology of human cases indicates a transmission originating from a persistent common source or multiple sources in the EU that are contaminated with isolates indistinguishable by XbaI-PFGE.

Avian influenza detected in south China

18.09.2012

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has been detected in the city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong province. The virus has infected 14,050 ducks and killed 6,300 of them since Sept. 11, when symptoms were first reported.

Mexico: H7N3 Virus Infection in Two Poultry Workers

14.09.2012

CDC: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Sep 14, 2012

During June–August 2012, Mexico's National Service for Health, Safety, and Food Quality reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H7N3 virus in poultry on farms throughout the state of Jalisco. Two cases of conjunctivitis without fever or respiratory symptoms caused by HPAI A/H7N3 virus infection in humans associated with exposure to infected poultry were reported.

Minnesota: Newcastle disease in cormorants

11.09.2012

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says an outbreak of Newcastle Disease caused a number of cormorants to die earlier this summer. Roughly 800 cormorants, pelicans and gulls were found sick or dead at Pigeon Lake in Litchfield and Minnesota Lake in Faribault County earlier this month. The DNR is closing the island near Minnesota Lake's western shore until it's determined the Newcastle outbreak has subsided. That island is the site of a large waterfowl nesting colony.

Salmonella Heidelberg in Centrum Valley Farms

10.09.2012

A recent inspection revealed Salmonella bacteria in two poultry barns implicated in an outbreak that sickened roughly 2,000 people and led to the recall of more than 500 million eggs in 2010. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors who visited the Centrum facilities between April 30 and May 4 of 2012 discovered Salmonella Heidelberg in two of six poultry houses during a routine inspection in the Clarion/Galt poultry houses. Centrum Valley Farms said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Salmonella Heidelberg bacteria in two of six poultry houses during a routine inspection.

High Salmonella prevalence in poultry retail products in Greece

08.09.2012

Zdragas et al (2012) Lett Appl Microbiol

A total of 96 skin-on chicken carcasses and 30 liver samples were analysed between May 2007 and May 2009 from twenty-two different commercial farm brands found in retail market countrywide. Salmonella was isolated from 38 (39•5%) of 96 chicken carcasses and from 10 (33•3%) of 30 liver samples. Higher isolation rate (60•4%) was observed in carcasses detected during summer (May to October), and lower isolation rate (18•7%) was observed in carcasses detected during winter (November to April); in liver samples, the positive rates were 53•4 and 13•2%, respectively.

Vietnam: avian influenza cases on the rise

06.09.2012

Avian influenza H5N1 have increased significantly in several cities and provinces over the past three weeks, according to a report on the diseases released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Department of Animal Health. Seven provinces in Vietnam currently have avian influenza epidemics, with more than 180,000 poultry being culled It seems that a new virus type appeared in Vietnam in July and quickly spread in the country’s northern and central regions in August.

Italy: LPAI in turkeys

05.09.2012

Low pathogenic avian influenza H5, was detected in meat-type turkeys, in Brescia (North Italy).

Spain: Salmonella outbreak due to contaminated mayonnaise

25.08.2012

Murcia local police are investigating what happened at a meeting of Ecuadorians on Aug. 15/12 in the La Fica fairgrounds during a celebration of the Virgin and the Swan. Up to 82 individuals suffered from food poisoning and were seen at the Virgin of la Arrixaca, Morales Meseguer, and Reina Sofia hospitals. Thirteen people remain hospitalized. The incident was associated with eating beef kebabs with mayonnaise. The appropriate inspections were carried out and an epidemiological survey was conducted among those affected, who presented with fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. It was determined that the food in question, which had provoked this situation, was the mayonnaise served with the beef kebabs.

Salmonella infections prompt recall of turkey jerky

24.08.2012

A meat market in Detroit Lakes is voluntarily recalling packages of turkey jerky after four people fell ill with salmonella infections. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture joined the store, Hoffman Town & Country Meat Market, in issuing a consumer advisory about the product on Thursday. All four patients reported eating turkey jerky before they became sick from salmonella bacteria in the first week in August.

A new H5N1 vaccine to be introduced in HK

23.08.2012

Re-6 an H5N1 poultry vaccine, will be introduced to chicken farms in Hong Kong. Re-6, which is more effective in preventing avian influenza H5N1 than the existing one, has been introduced on the Mainland and successfully registered in Hong Kong.

Salmonella found in chicken served at Arkansas prison

23.08.2012

Salmonella sickened more than 350 inmates at an Arkansas maximum-security prison. The foodpoisoning was caused by contaminated chicken. The Arkansas Department of Health says testing confirmed the presence of the bacteria. Inmates at the Arkansas Department of Correction's Tucker Unit were served chicken salad on Aug. 4 and hundreds fell ill with nausea and diarrhea afterward.

US: FDA issues final Guidance to help clarify its 2009 egg rule

21.08.2012

The U.S Food and Drug Administration today announced the availability of a final Guidance for Industry on the production, storage and transportation of shell eggs under the Egg Safety Rule. The guidance is in response to questions the FDA received about the Egg Safety Rule, which published in July 2009 and is designed to prevent Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in shell eggs. The guidance document addresses questions regarding the requirements under the rule, including how to determine whether and when producers must comply with the requirements, SE prevention measures, sampling and testing requirements, facility registration, and enforcement and compliance.

Avian influenza in The Netherlands

14.08.2012

Low pathogenic avian influenza H7N7 was detected in a free range laying hens in Hagestein (Utrecht). The flock size is around 30,000 birds. Between the end of February and the end of May 2003, an avian influenza outbreak occurred in The Netherlands.

H9 influenza viruses: a threat for human health

12.08.2012

Qiao et al. (2012) Journal of General Virology

Both H9N2 avian influenza and 2009 pandemic H1N1 viruses (pH1N1) are able to infect humans and swine, which has raised concerns that novel reassortant H9 viruses with pH1N1 genes might be generated in these hosts by reassortment. Researchers from USA and China, generated 2 reassortant H9 viruses (H9N2/CA09 and H9N1/CA09) in the background of the pH1N1 A/California/04/2009 (CA09) virus by replacing either both HA and NA genes or only the HA gene with respective genes from the A/quail/Hong Kong/G1/1997 (H9N2) virus, and evaluated their replication, pathogenicity and transmission in chickens and pigs compared to the parental viruses. Chickens that were infected with the parental H9N2 and reassortant H9 viruses seroconverted. The parental H9N2 and reassortant H9N2/CA09 transmitted to sentinel chickens, but the H9N1/CA09 did not.

Indonesia: a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus

10.08.2012

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is a 37 year old male from Yogyakarta province. He developed fever on 24 July 2012, was hospitalized on 27 July and died on 30 July. Epidemiological investigation on the case found that the case had four pet caged birds in his home, which is about 50 metres from a poultry slaughter house and near a farm.

Newcastle virus suspected in deaths of hundreds of Minnesota birds

08.08.2012

The Department of Natural Resources suspects the Newcastle disease is responsible in the deaths of hundreds of birds on Pigeon Lake in west-central Minnesota and on Minnesota Lake in southern Minnesota. The DNR says around 700 cormorants, 100 pelicans and some gulls, herons and egrets have been found sick and dead at Pigeon Lake, near Litchfield, alone. Additional bird die-offs have been reported this summer on Leech Lake, Lake Vermilion and the Ontario, Canada, side of Rainy Lake. Test results are pending.

Vietnam: Six cases of H5N1 in three locations

08.08.2012

The outbreaks were reported in Ha Tinh (north central coast), Hai Phong (northeast region), and Ninh Binh (south of there in the Red River delta area). 30,000 birds were destroyed.

Salmonella Enteritidis: Increasing Incidence of Domestically Acquired Infections

31.07.2012

Chai et al (2012) Clin Infect Dis. (2012) 54(suppl 5): S488-S497

Salmonella enterica infection is a significant public health problem, causing an estimated 1 million domestically acquired foodborne illnesses and .350 deaths each year in the United States and an estimated 93.8 million illnesses and 155,000 deaths each year worldwide; S. Enteritidis (SE) is one of the most common serotype and continues to cause large numbers of human illnesses in the United States despite ongoing implementation of targeted control and prevention measures for 25 years. Public health authorities, regulatory agencies, food producers, and food processors need accurate information about rates and changes in SE infection to implement and evaluate evidence-based control policies and practices. A group of American researchers analyzed the incidence of human SE infection during 1996–2009 in the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), an active, population-based surveillance system for laboratory-confirmed infections. They compared FoodNet incidence with pas

Emergence of Fatal Avian Influenza in New England Harbor Seals

31.07.2012

Anthony et al (2012) mBio

From September to December 2011, 162 New England harbor seals died in an outbreak of pneumonia. Sequence analysis of postmortem samples revealed the presence of an avian H3N8 influenza A virus, similar to a virus circulating in North American waterfowl since at least 2002 but with mutations that indicate recent adaption to mammalian hosts. These include a D701N mutation in the viral PB2 protein, previously reported in highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses infecting people. The emergence of this A/harbor seal/Massachusetts/1/2011 virus may herald the appearance of an H3N8 influenza clade with potential for persistence and cross-species transmission.

NARMS: 2010 Executive Report

27.07.2012

Non-Typhoidal Salmonella: A total of 3,947 non-typhoidal Salmonella isolates were tested, consisting of 2,474 from humans, 400 from retail meats, and 1,073 from healthy food animals at slaughter. Among retail meats, Salmonella was isolated from 15% of ground turkey samples, 13% of chicken breast samples, 1.5% of pork chop samples, and 0.5% of ground beef samples. Serotype Frequencies: Some of the most common serotypes among isolates from humans were also common among food isolates, particularly isolates from poultry sources.

Critical mutations for High Virulence of the H9N2 virus in mammals

19.07.2012

Wang et al (2012) PLoS ONE 7(7): e40752

H9N2 influenza viruses have been circulating worldwide in multiple avian species and have repeatedly infected humans to cause typical disease. The continued avian-to-human interspecies transmission of H9N2 viruses raises concerns about the possibility of viral adaption with increased virulence for humans. To investigate the genetic basis of H9N2 influenza virus host range and pathogenicity in mammals, Chinese researchers generated a mouse-adapted H9N2 virus (SD16-MA) that possessed significantly higher virulence than wide-type virus (SD16). Increased virulence was detectable after 8 sequential lung passages in mice.

National surveillance of Salmonella Enteritidis in commercial eggs in Japan

17.07.2012

Esaki et al (2012) Epidemiol Infect

In 2006, the Food Safety Commission of Japan started to organize the risk profile of S. Enteritidis contamination in eggs in order to conduct a risk assessment. In this process, it was pointed out that a nationwide estimate of S. Enteritidis contamination in eggs was necessary for the risk assessment. A total of 105,033 eggs were collected across Japan from June 2010 to January 2011 and tested for Salmonella Enteritidis to provide data for the risk profiling of S. Enteritidis in eggs by the Food Safety Commission of Japan. S. Enteritidis isolates were recovered from three samples (20 eggs/sample) and these samples were different in regard to sampling period, grading and packaging centre and farm.

Taiwan: H5N1 in birds smuggled from China

17.07.2012

Taiwan reports a case of avian influenza H5N1. The outbreak has been reported (via OIE) in the Luchu Township (T'AO-YUAN ). Thirty-eight pet birds were intercepted at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on 7 July 2012. The birds were smuggled by a passenger travelling from Macao to Taiwan and euthanized immediately on the spot and sent to National Laboratory, Animal Health Research Institute, for further investigation. H5N1 HPAI virus has been identified from these birds and HA0 cleavage sequencing demonstrated its high pathogenicity.

Attenuated vaccines can recombine to form virulent field viruses

13.07.2012

Lee et al (2012) Science 337:188

Research from the University of Melbourne has shown that two different vaccine viruses- used simultaneously to control the same condition in chickens- have combined to produce new infectious viruses, prompting early response from Australia's veterinary medicines regulator. The research found that when two different ILT vaccines strains were used in the same populations, they combined into two new strains (a process known as recombination), resulting in disease outbreaks. combining of live vaccine virus strains outside of the laboratory was previously thought to be highly unlikely, but this study shows that it is possible and has led to disease outbreaks in poultry flocks. To combat ILTV, chicken flocks are vaccinated with attenuated vaccines that can still infect and replicate but do not lead to disease. Australia has used two vaccines, which are produced by Pfizer and called SA2 and A20. In 2006, however, the country introduced a new vaccine from Intervet that contains an European s

Hong Kong Approves New AI Vaccine for Poultry

13.07.2012

USDA: Gain report

The Hong Kong government (HKG) has decided to recommend Re-5 H5N1 AI vaccine as an alternative to the existing Intervet Nobilis H5N2 AI vaccine for the mandatory vaccination program in local poultry farms after a 12-month successful field trial in two farms. The HKG introduced mandatory vaccination for poultry since 2003 as one of the precautionary measures against avian influenza outbreaks. However, an ensuing AI case in a local farm in 2008 prompted the HKG to evaluate the efficacy of the existing vaccine and to identify other possible options. Based on research results and a year’s field trial, the HKG concluded that Re-5 vaccine is effective in lowering AI risk and recommended its use in chicken farms. The Hong Kong government regards AI risk level in Hong Kong, especially human infection, to be relatively low and stable, although it also understanding that it is unrealistic to expect the complete elimination of AI risk in the territory.

Salmonella outbreak in Thailand school

12.07.2012

Chiang Mai Welfare School students became sick after eating donated eggs that were boiled three days previously and not reheated before they were consumed, allowing the bacteria to develop. On Sunday evening, about 900 students of the school, located in Mae Rim district, ate chilli curry and donated boiled eggs at the cafeteria. After the meal, 75 of the students became ill with headaches, high fever, nausea and diarrhoea. The number of sick students increased to 460 yesterday, health authorities said. Of them, 290 are recovering at home, 123 are still in nine hospitals, and eight students are critically ill.

South Africa: Thousands of ostriches slaughtered due to avian influenza

12.07.2012

The ostrich industry has been dealt with a new blow by a fresh outbreak of avian influenza that prompted the slaughter of thousands (~8,000 birds) of ostriches in South Africa's Western Cape province.

Mexico kills 2.5 million poultry in bid to contain avian influenza

11.07.2012

Officials have culled 2.5 million birds at poultry farms in western Mexico over the past three weeks in an attempt to contain an avian flu outbreak. After importing one million vaccines from Pakistan, the farming officials said they have developed a seed-based vaccine that they will deliver to four laboratories to produce over 80 million doses initially.

Another Indonesian girl dies of avian influenza

06.07.2012

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has notified WHO of a new case of a human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is an 8 year-old female from the province of West Java. She developed fever on 18 June 2012 and then travelled on vacation the following day to Singapore, where she saw a private physician who diagnosed pharyngitis on 20 June. The case returned to Jakarta on 24 June and was still feeling unwell with coughing, decreased appetite and vomiting. Her family took her for treatment to the local hospital. Her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to intensive care, but died on 3 July. Infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was confirmed by the National Institute of Health Research and Development (NIHRD), Ministry of Health.

Newcastle Disease in Italy: epidemiological situation

06.07.2012

On 23/02/2012 NRL confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle diseasein a farm located in Montespertoli municipality Florence province (Tuscany Region). Farm reared 80 pigeons for non commercial use of which 10 died and 8 showed clinical symptoms. An Highly virulent Paramyxo virus type1 (F protein cleaveage site –GRRQKR*F and ICPI: 1.2) was isolated from samples taken from livers of dead birds. This strain was charactherised as Pigeon Paramyxovirus type1 belonging to genetic lineage 4b. On 16/05/2012 NRL confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle disease in a farm located in Gottasecca municipality Cuneo province (Piemonte Region). Farm reared 24 pigeons for non commercial use of which 1 died and 7 showing clinical symptoms were euthanized. On 04/06/2012 NRL confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle disease in a farm located in Treja municipality Macerata province (Marche Region). Farm reared 180 pigeons for non commercial use of which 10 died.

Avian Influenza in Italy: epidemiological situation

06.07.2012

Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza-Italy-2012: Epidemiological situation From 01 to 30 Jun 2012 - 1 outbreak of H5 LPAI was detected. 12 Jun 2012: In the frame of national monitoring plan serum samples were collected in a dealer farm located in San Lorenzo del Vallo municipality (Calabria Region). On the 15 of June the NRL confirmed positive results for LPAI Virus subtype H5 on 2 serum samples (HI titre 1:256 -1:128). Control measures -Depopulation on 21 June 2012. Birds present in 1st farm : 1.300 laying hens.

Denmark: Record-low occurrences of Salmonella

05.07.2012

Source: Denmark National Food Institute

In 2011, the number of Danes suffering from Salmonella infections fell to the lowest level since the 1980s. For the first time in 17 years, no human Salmonella cases could be related to Danish chicken, and the number of cases attributed to eggs was at a record low. These are the findings presented in the annual report on the occurrence of food-borne diseases that can be transmitted to humans, prepared by the Zoonosis Centre at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. In 2011, 1,166 Danes were registered with a Salmonella infection, which corresponds to 21 cases per 100,000 citizens. This is the lowest number since the 1980s. Almost half of all these Salmonella infections were contracted abroad, in particular on travels to Egypt, Thailand and Turkey.

Hong Kong: H5N1 in pet bird shop

05.07.2012

Avian flu virus H5N1 virus was detected on a swab sample collected from a bird cage holding an Oriental magpie robin at a pet bird shop in the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden (Bird Garden) in Mong Kok. The swab sample was collected on June 25 for laboratory tests with other swab samples under the AFCD's routine avian influenza surveillance programme. The Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation has declared the pet bird shop as an infected place. The AFCD has closed the shop and removed all the birds to the Department's animal management centre in Sheung Shui for disposal.

China confirms H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Xinjiang

02.07.2012

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwestern China has confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in chickens that has killed 1,600 birds and led to culling of more than 150,000 additional poultry, according to reports today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In addition to the 1,600 deaths, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) reported that 5,500 other birds had symptoms in a flock of 156,439 chickens. XPCC is a unique economic and semi-military government organization of about 2.5 million people.

First report of H9N2 influenza A virus circulates in Egypt

02.07.2012

Isabella Monne et al (2012) Influenza and other respiratory viruses

Researchers have identified H9N2 avian influenza in commercial broiler chickens for the first time in Egypt. The researchers verified H9N2 by RT-PCR in cloacal, nasopharyngeal, or organ samples collected from poultry on six broiler farms and a broiler breeder farm in Giza, Beheira, Dakahlia, and Sharkia governorates from February 2010 to August 2011. The affected poultry showed respiratory signs at the time of sampling, and the flocks had death rates of 7% to 12.8%.

Poultry meat inspection: EFSA reviews risks for public health

02.07.2012

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific opinion, suggests that traditional poultry meat inspection may not suffice to fully address the most relevant biological hazards to public health: Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and ESBL/AmpC gene-carrying bacteria (bacteria carrying extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)/AmpC genes). The EFSA’s scientific opinion, published June 29, is part of a response to European Commission’s May 2010 request that the organization investigate the correlation between meat inspection and public health. The EFSA was asked to identify and rank the main public health risks associated with the current inspection system and pinpointed Campylobacter, Salmonella, and β-lactamase bacteria as primary targets.

Mexico: 150 egg production farms are under quarantine in Jalisco

30.06.2012

Mexico's avian influenza virus in two municipalities of the central-western state of Jalisco has led to the loss of 870,000 chickens as of Friday but is thought to be contained in 10 poultry farms, the Agriculture Ministry's food-safety service said Friday (29/06). The H7N3 virus, was detected in Mexico for the first time this month in Acatic and Tepatitlan, leading officials to take emergency measures such as quarantining farms, evaluating nearby ones and limiting the movement of live poultry to keep the virus from spreading.

South Africa: Two outbreaks of HPAI in Western Cape Province

29.06.2012

The South African veterinary authorities have reported two new outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza at commercial ostrich farms located in Hessequa - Western Cape Province. Commercial ostrich farms. Initially no clinical signs or mortalities were seen.

Three HPAI H7 Outbreaks in Mexico

25.06.2012

Animal health officials in Mexico are investigating three high-pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza outbreaks at commercial layer farms in the country's central Jalisco state. Isolates are being tested by intravenous pathogenicity test to determine their pathogenicity and by gene sequencing. The birds showed clinical signs, including gasping, lethargy, drooping wings, and fever.

Some avian influenza strains only three mutations away from a pandemic, researchers find

22.06.2012

Russell et al., (2012) Science 336:1541-1547

Avian A/H5N1 influenza viruses pose a pandemic threat. As few as five amino acid substitutions, or four with reassortment, might be sufficient for mammal-to-mammal transmission through respiratory droplets. From surveillance data, a group of researchers found that two of these substitutions are common in A/H5N1 viruses, and thus, some viruses might require only three additional substitutions to become transmissible via respiratory droplets between mammals. The researchers used a mathematical model of within-host virus evolution to study factors that could increase and decrease the probability of the remaining substitutions evolving after the virus has infected a mammalian host. According to the model, factors that increased the likelihood of the virus evolving included random mutations and positive selection. Viruses can replicate billions of times within a single host, sometimes imperfectly, leading to random mutations. Positive selection may favor some of these mutations if they

Science journal prints controversial avian influenza research

22.06.2012

Herfst et al. (2012) Science 336:1534-1541

The second of two avian influenza studies once considered too risky to publish was released, ending a saga that pitted concerns about terrorism against fears of a deadly global epidemic. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 virus can cause morbidity and mortality in humans but thus far has not acquired the ability to be transmitted by aerosol or respiratory droplet (“airborne transmission”) between humans. To address the concern that the virus could acquire this ability under natural conditions, a researchers group from The Netherlands genetically modified A/H5N1 virus by site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent serial passage in ferrets. The genetically modified A/H5N1 virus acquired mutations during passage in ferrets, ultimately becoming airborne transmissible in ferrets.

Hong Kong reports HPAI in Wild Birds

22.06.2012

Preliminary testing on a dead scaly-breasted munia found in Yuen Long has returned a positive result for the H5 avian influenza virus, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said on June 20, adding that further confirmatory tests are being conducted. The dead bird was found and collected at Cumberland Presbyterian Church Yao Dao Secondary School, 28 Hong Yip Street, Yuen Long, on June 18.

South Africa: LPAI in two commercial ostrich farms

19.06.2012

Two outbreaks of low pathogenic Avian Influenza H7N1 were reported on commercial ostrich farms. One outbreak in Camdeboo (EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE) and the second one in Hessequa (WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE).

Egypt produces new avian influenza vaccine

15.06.2012

Egypt's National Research Centre has developed the first locally produced H5N1 avian influenza vaccine for poultry, the Egyptian Gazette reported yesterday. The vaccine is targeted specifically to the H5N1 strain circulating in Egyptian poultry and is as much as 95% effective in combating that strain, compared with the 20% to 25% effectiveness of imported vaccine for which the nation has been paying "high prices," the story said.

Avian influenza in Italy - update

11.06.2012

From 01 January to 31 May 2012 there were 3 outbreaks of LPAI in Italy. 1 outbreak of H7 and 2 of H5. 24 Apr 2012: In the frame of national monitoring plan serum samples were collected in laying hens farm located in Naples municipality (Campania Region). On the 02 of May the NRL confirmed positive results for LPAI Virus subtype H5 on serum samples (HI titre range 1:32-1:128). Birds present in farm : 4.800 laying hens.

Newcastle diseases in Italy

08.06.2012

A new outbreak of Newcastle diseases is reported in pigeons kept in a backyard farm in Marche (Urbisaglia).

H5N1 case in Egypt

07.06.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is a four year-old female from Kfr -Elsheikh governorate. She developed symptoms on 25 April 2012, was admitted to a hospital on 26 April 2012 and received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. She was discharged from the hospital on 7 May 2012. Investigations into the source of infection indicated that the case had exposure to backyard poultry.

Egypt: a new case of human infection with avian influenza

07.06.2012

H5N1 avian influenza reported in Northwestern China

06.06.2012

China's northwestern Gansu province has reported an outbreak of the highly epidemic H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced Wednesday. More than 6,200 chickens at a farm in a village in Luyang, a town in Jingtai county, showed symptoms of suspected avian flu Friday, and 260 of them have died, according to the MOA. The National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory on Tuesday confirmed the epidemic was H5N1 avian influenza after testing samples collected at the farm, the MOA said.

Boy confirmed with H5N1 in Hong Kong

05.06.2012

WHO

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, China, has reported a human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection.‪ The case is a 2 year-old male from Guangzhou City, Guangdong province. He developed symptoms on 23 May 2012 in Guangdong province and went to a private clinic in Hong Kong, China, on 26 May 2012. He developed febrile convulsion and was transferred to a hospital on 28 May 2012 and was laboratory confirmed as A(H5N1) on 2 June 2012. His condition remains serious and he remains hospitalized.

Hong Kong: Boy infected with H5 in stable condition

02.06.2012

The Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) announced today the activation of Serious Response Level in public hospitals to tie in with the Government's raising the response level for avian influenza from "Alert" to "Serious". The serious response level under the Government's Preparedness Plan for influenza pandemic was activated as the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) investigated a case of influenza A H5 infection affecting a two-year-old boy. The patient developed fever and runny nose on May 23 in Guangdong province. He came to Hong Kong on May 26 and sought medical attention from a private medical clinic in Mong Kok. Subsequently, he developed febrile convulsion and was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on May 28. He was admitted for suspected encephalitis. He is now in stable condition.

Italy: Newcastle disease in pigeons

30.05.2012

Pigeons kept in a backyard farm were found positive for Newcastle disease.

Cambodia: H5N1 death

29.05.2012

The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia has announced a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case was a 10 years old female from Kampong Speu Province. She developed symptoms on 20 May 2012 and after initial treatment at the village was eventually admitted to the hospital on 25 May with symptoms of fever and shortness of breath. Infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was confirmed by Institute Pasteur du Cambodge on 26 May 2012, however, despite intensive medical care, she died on 27 May 2012.

UK: prevalence and risk factors for Campylobacter in broiler flocks at slaughter

26.05.2012

Lawes et al (2012) Epidemiology and Infection

During 2007–2009 a UK-wide, 3-year stratified randomized survey of UK chicken broiler flocks was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter-infected batches of birds at slaughter. Thirty-seven abattoirs, processing 88·3% of the total UK slaughter throughput, were recruited at the beginning of the survey. Of the 1174 slaughter batches sampled, 79·2% were found to be colonized with Campylobacter, the majority of isolates being C. jejuni.

H9N2 Seroprevalence among Poultry Workers in Pune, India, 2010

26.05.2012

PLoS ONE, May 18, 2012

Avian influenza (AI) H9N2 has been reported from poultry in India. A seroepidemiological study was undertaken among poultry workers to understand the prevalence of antibodies against AI H9N2 in Pune, Maharashtra, India. A total of 338 poultry workers were sampled. Serum samples were tested for presence of antibodies against AI H9N2 virus by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization (MN) assays.

Two Newcastle disease outbreaks in Israel

15.05.2012

Two new cases of Newcastle disease are reported in northern and southern Israel: Revadim: 5 week-old turkey flock. Yas'ur: a 43 week-old broiler breeder flock.

Antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter strains isolated from animals (poultry, pig, cattle) in France: major trends

12.05.2012

Bulletin-Epidemiologique N°50 - May 2012

Monitoring of Campylobacter antimicrobial resistance has been conducted by the General Directorate for Food (Ministry of Agriculture) since 2000 in poultry, swine and bovine production, and is performed by laboratories from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses). Strains of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are isolated and identified from production representative samples collected in slaughterhouses. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of important antimicrobials are determined.

Taiwan: Outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza confirmed in Yunlin

11.05.2012

Agriculture authorities confirmed an outbreak of a highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus at a farm in the southern county of Yunlin, where nearly 4,000 chickens have died over the past four days. This is the fifth HPAI H5N2 case recorded in Taiwan so far this year. Over 13 million chickens are currently being raised on more than 900 farms in Yunlin,and this is the first time a highly pathogenic H5N2 outbreak has occurred in the county.

South Africa: LPAI Outbreak in Ostriches in Western Cape

10.05.2012

The South African veterinary authorities have discovered an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (H5N2) at a commercial ostrich farm located in Uniondale, Western Cape Province. The Western Cape agriculture department will cull another 360 ostriches in the Oudtshoorn area by the end of this week. More than 40,000 ostriches have been culled since the H5N2 avian influenza virus was first detected in Klein Karoo flocks in March 2011, including 3,000 female breeders, which will affect breeding for the next three years. The export ban imposed 14 months ago by the European Union (EU) has resulted in revenue losses of more than R800m.

Israel Reports three Newcastle Disease outbreaks

09.05.2012

Israel reports three new cases of Newcastle disease. All cases are in the northern part of the country. Hazon: 34-week-old table egg layers. Betzet: 5-week-old broilers (40,000 birds). Dishon: 5-week-old broilers.

Nature Publishes The Kawaoka H5N1 Study

03.05.2012

Nature 2012

After months of debate Kawaoka's study published. Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A viruses occasionally infect humans, but currently do not transmit efficiently among humans. The viral haemagglutinin (HA) protein is a known host-range determinant as it mediates virus binding to host-specific cellular receptors. The researchers assess the molecular changes in HA that would allow a virus possessing subtype H5 HA to be transmissible among mammals.

Indonesia Reports 6th Avian Influenza Death This Year

02.05.2012

The Indonesian IHR National Focal Point of the Ministry of Health has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is a 2 year-old male from Riau Province. He developed fever on 17 April 2012 and was hospitalized on 21 April 2012 but he died on 27 April 2012. Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. Preliminary findings indicate that the case’s parents are quail egg vendors.

Newcastle disease in Pakistan

28.04.2012

Poultry producers in Pakistan are suffering heavy losses to Newcastle disease, with almost 45 million broilers succumbing to the virus in the past five months, according to local press reports.

Risk factors for Salmonella prevalence in laying-hen farms in Japan

26.04.2012

Sasaki et al. (2012) Epidemiology and Infection 140:982-990

Human salmonellosis cases, particularly those caused by Salmonella Enteritidis, have been closely linked to egg consumption. This epidemiological survey was conducted to determine the baseline Salmonella prevalence and identify the risk factors for Salmonella prevalence in laying-hen farms in Japan. Caecal excrement samples and dust samples were obtained from 400 flocks in 338 laying-hen farms. Salmonella was identified in 20.7% of the farms and 19.5% of the flocks. The prevalence of Salmonella was significantly higher in flocks reared in windowless houses than in those reared in open houses. In addition, the risk of Salmonella presence was significantly higher when the windowless house farms implemented induced moulting or in-line egg processing.

Canada: Avian Influenza Viruses Added to Reportable Diseases List

25.04.2012

The Government of Canada has strengthened its approach to controlling avian influenza in domestic poultry by adding low pathogenicity H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses to the list of reportable diseases.

Bali boy dies from avian influenza

25.04.2012

An eight-year-old boy died from avian influenza in a Bali hospital on Tuesday (24/4) night. The boy, Ni Putu Purnami, was in critical condition when he was transferred from Bangli Hospital to Sanglah Hospital on Tuesday afternoon and he was immediately isolated.

Three Newcaste disaese cases in northern Israel

24.04.2012

Israel reports three new cases of Newcastle disease. All cases are in the northern part of the country. Dovev: 23-week-old table egg layers. Alma: 5-week-old broilers Goren: 5-week-old broilers

Taiwan: 3 poultry workers and quarantine officers show antibodies for H5N2

22.04.2012

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed that three poultry workers and officials working in animal quarantine have tested positive for antibodies for the H5N2 strain of avian influenza. All three people are healthy and none have developed any flu symptoms. The H5N2 strain of avian influenza does not cause disease in humans.

China: Seroprevalence of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus among poultry workers

20.04.2012

BMC Infectious Diseases

A study of blood samples from 306 poultry workers in a Chinese province that has had H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks and two human cases found that 8 workers (2.6%) had serologic evidence of H5N1 infection. This study was designed to better understand the real infection rate of H5N1. It investigated the potential for the zoonotic spread to humans and evaluates the risk factors associated with subclinical infection among poultry workers in Jiangsu, China. Since 2003 to 06 Jan 2012, the number of laboratory confirmed human cases of infection with avian influenza in China was 41 and 27 were fatal. However, the official estimate of the H5N1 case-fatality rate has been described by some as an over estimation since there may be numerous undetected asymptomatic/mild cases of H5N1 infection. This study was conducted to better understand the real infection rate and evaluate the potential risk factors for the zoonotic spread of H5N1 viruses to humans.

Salmonella tops list in FDA food registry report

20.04.2012

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its second annual review of the Reportable Food Registry, the program that requires domestic and foreign food makers to report potentially hazardous foods that have entered U.S. commerce. The program's second year of operation, from Sept. 8, 2010 to Sept. 7 2011, included 882 reports of hazardous human and animal foods, including 225 "primary reports" on particular food items. That compares with the 2,240 reports entered in the first year, of which 229 were primary reports. Despite the drop in secondary reports, the FDA saw the number of "amended reports" -- reports that correct or add to primary reports - increase from 139 to 174 (25%) this year. The increase suggests more facilities are investigating problems and following up on their causes with the FDA.

A suspected H5N1 outbreak in Bhutan

20.04.2012

Avian Influenza was reported in Yangbari, Gongdue, Mongar in Bhutan after one carcass tested positive to real-time PCR on 5 April. However, subsequently 16 samples from the affected and nearby villages tested negative to H5N1. Clinical and laboratory surveillance within 3 km radius showed no new cases. The affected birds are backyard free-ranging chicken. Clinical and laboratory surveillance within 3 km radius showed no new cases.

Australia: Food safety watchdog warning on poultry livers

19.04.2012

The Australian food safety watchdog Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has issued an official warning for people to take care when cooking chicken livers. It follows outbreaks of Campylobacter food poisoning linked to dishes such as pâté, where poultry liver has been undercooked. Information supplied by the Commonwealth Department of Health showed that outbreaks associated with poultry liver dishes have increase in frequency in recent years. Data from OzFoodNet showed there had been seven outbreaks in Australia since 2000, but with six of those occurring since 2008. The registered outbreaks were all linked to food prepared in restaurants and function centres, including two in Queensland, two in Tasmania, one in South Australia, one in New South Wales and one in Western Australia.

China: H5N1 avian influenza reported in Ningxia Hui autonomous region

18.04.2012

China´s northwestern Ningxia Hui autonomous region has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry. More than 23,000 chickens at several farms in a village of Touying town in the city of Guyuan in Ningxia showed symptoms of suspected avian influenza Friday and the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed the case as a H5N1 avian influenza, after testing samples collected at those sites.

Three Newcastle Disease outbreaks in Israel

17.04.2012

The Israeli veterinary authorities have reported three outbreaks of Newcastle disease in: Zavdiel: Turkeys, 6 weeks of age (mixed infection with avian influenza H5N1). The turkeys originated from the surveillance zone for HPAI of Shalwa. Kfar Yehoshua: 6 week-old broilers. Mazra'a: 4-week-old broilers.

UK: 1 in 5 chickens contaminated

13.04.2012

Food-poisoning bacteria found in supermarket chicken

Which? tested whole chickens and chicken portions from nine supermarkets in March 2012. Of the 192 samples: one in five were contaminated with campylobacter. 17% were contaminated with listeria, with 4% containing levels of listeria classed as high by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). 1.5% tested positive for salmonella. The Which? study was a snapshot, testing chicken samples from all the major retailers – Aldi, Asda, The Co-operative, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Egypt: a new case of human infection with avian influenza

12.04.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case is a 36 year-old female from Giza governorate. She developed symptoms on 1 April 2012 and was admitted to a hospital on 7 April 2012 and died on the same day.

H5N2 LPAI in a duck farm in Taiwan

12.04.2012

The notifiable avian influenza (NAI) viral infection was detected on a duck farm in Yuan-Shan Township, in the process of active surveillance and identified as LPAI H5N2 strain by virus isolation. Movement restriction was implemented on the infected farm. The ducks did not manifest clinical signs.

Hong Kong: Oriental magpie robin tests positive for H5 virus

06.04.2012

Poultry farmers and pet shops have been reminded to take precautions against avian influenza after preliminary tests found that a dead Oriental magpie robin discovered in Hung Hom on April 4 had the H5 avian influenza virus. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said cleansing and disinfection has been stepped up in the area around Station Lane, although there were no poultry farms nearby.

Cambodia: a 6 year-old female dies of avian influenza

05.04.2012

The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia has announced a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The 6 year-old female from Kampong Chhnang Province developed symptoms on 22 March 2012. After initial treatment at the village, she was later admitted to hospital in Phnom Penh on 28 March. She died on 30 March. Infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus was confirmed by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on 30 March. It was reported that the patient had contact with sick or dead poultry prior to onset of illness.

UK: H9 reported in domestic poultry

03.04.2012

In a poster presented at the 8th International Symposium on Avian Influenza, Parker et al. reports an outbreak of low pathogenic H9N1 in broiler breeders in December 2010 in East Anglia. LPAI viruses of H9 subtype have also been isolated from several duck species in The Netherlands. Drop in egg production was recorded in the flock (17,157 birds). Phylogenetic analysis of the HA and NA genes indicated North American and Euroasian origins for these two genes, which suggested that this AIV may be a reassortment that consists of genetic segments of diverse geographic origin. .

LPAI confirmed in Clonakilty outbreak

02.04.2012

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that final lab test results show the avian influenza outbreak in a flock of pheasants near Clonakilty is a low pathogenic H5N2 strain of the virus. Results from a second group of pheasants in Barryroe will be available in the coming days.

Cambodian girl dies from avian influenza

02.04.2012

A six-year-old Cambodian girl has died from avian influenza. It is the country's second fatality from the virus this year. The child, from central Kampong Chhnang province, fell ill on March 22 and passed away on March 30.

Newcastle disease in Israel

02.04.2012

Newcastle diseases is taking root and continues to be reported poultry farms in Israel: Kahal: Broilers, 5 weeks old Ein Yaakov: Broilers, 5 weeks old Avivim: Commercial layer flock, 40 weeks old Zarit: Broilers, 5.5 weeks old Amka: Broilers, 5 weeks old Bet Herut: Broilers: 5 weeks old

Egypt: Two cases of avian influenza in humans

02.04.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of two new cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The first case is a 2 year-old female from Demiatta Governorate. She developed symptoms on 19 March 2012 and was admitted to a hospital on 20 March 2012 where she received oseltamivir. She is still under treatment and in good medical condition. The case was laboratory confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories (NIC) on 22 of March 2012. Epidemiological investigations into the source of infection indicate that the case had exposure to dead backyard poultry. The second case is a 15 year-old female from Giza Governorate. She developed symptoms on 25 March 2012 and was admitted to a hospital in critical condition on 29 March 2012. She received oseltamivir on admission. She died on 31 March 2012. The case was laboratory confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories (NIC) on 31 March 2012.

Israel: Avian influenza in Zavdiel

30.03.2012

An outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 was diagnosed, in a turkey farm in Zavdiel, (southern Israel - north of Kiryat Gat). The Israeli veterinary Services began destroying 30,000 turkeys 6.5 weeks old.

Ireland: Outbreak of avian influenza reported in Co Cork

30.03.2012

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza in a small flock of pheasants near Clonakilty, Co Cork. Preliminary results show the virus is low pathogenic H5N1 strain of the with further tests being carried out. As a purely precautionary measure, the 100 birds on the affected premises are being slaughtered and all necessary biosecurity measures have been put in place. Restrictions have now been placed around two gun clubs in Cork, following the outbreak of avian influenza.

Indonesia reports a human avian influenza death

26.03.2012

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is a 17 year-old male from Nusa Tenggara Barat Province. He developed fever on 28 February 2012 and sought treatment on 1 March 2012. His condition deteriorated and he was admitted to a referral hospital but he died on 9 March 2012. Epidemiological investigation conducted by a team from the health office indicated that there were sudden poultry die-offs in his neighbourhood.

Triple reassortant H3N2 influenza viruses in breeder turkeys

22.03.2012

Three unique triple reassortant (TR) H3N2 influenza viruses bearing gene segments from 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) in domestic turkeys were reported by a Canadian group in PLoS One. Triple reassortant (TR) H3N2 influenza viruses cause varying degrees of loss in egg production in breeder turkeys. In this study TR H3N2 viruses isolated from three geographically separate breeder turkey farms in southern Ontario with a drop in egg production, were characterized. The eight gene segments of the virus isolated from the first case submission (FAV-003) were all of TR H3N2 lineage. The samples from the two subsequent case submissions (FAV-009 and FAV-010) were unique reassortants with PB2, PA, nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix (M) gene segments from 2009 pandemic H1N1 and the remaining gene segments from TR H3N2.

Consumers warned not to purchase eggs from Daizen Farms

21.03.2012

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is warning consumers not to eat any eggs produced by Daizen Farms of Burlington because of its insanitary conditions and risk of Salmonella infection in laying hens on the farm. An inspection by the WSDA officials revealed that not only did the feed consumed by the laying hens contain Salmonella but the eggs were also packaged under insanitary conditions on the farm. In addition, rodent droppings were observed inside an egg-washing machine during use.

Israel: Two new outbreaks of Newcastle disease

21.03.2012

Two new outbreaks of Newcastle disease were recorded in Israeli poultry farms: A broiler breeder flock, 38 weeks old in Gan Ashomron and in a commercial layer farm in Alma (a village in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel). The flocks will not be culled.

Taiwan confirms another outbreak of high-path H5N2

20.03.2012

Taiwan has confirmed its third outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in commercial poultry. All began last month but were reported to the OIE after delays of varying lengths. The most recent report describes an outbreak in a flock of 8,647 poultry that killed 426 birds in Chu-Tang township of Changhua County. A Mar 10 report detailed 318 deaths in a flock of 9,625 in Fang-Yuan township in the same county, and a Mar 3 report confirmed 804 H5N2 deaths in a flock of 4,804 birds in Liou-Jia district of Tainan county.

Egypt: a 40 year-old woman die from avian influenza

19.03.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case is a 40 year-old female from Dakahlia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 6 March 2012, was hospitalised on 12 March 2012. She was in critical condition and received oseltamivir upon admission. She died on 15 March 2012.

The Netherlands: Avian influenza at Turkey Farm in Limburg

18.03.2012

Dutch authorities will cull 42,700 turkeys today after a H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza strain was found at a turkey farm in Kelpen-Oler in Limburg, the Netherlands.

Hong Kong: house crow tested positive for avian influenza

17.03.2012

A preliminary testing of a dead house crow found in Hong Kong's Shek Kip Mei area has tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said Saturday. The dead bird was found and collected at a planter next to a petrol filling station, outside Tai Hang Tung Recreation Ground on March 15.

Research: Salmonella can thrives in the gut despite the immune system reaction

16.03.2012

Liu et al (2012) Cell Host & Microbe 11:227-239

Lead researcher Manuela Raffatellu, a UCI assistant professor of microbiology & molecular genetics, and colleagues identified a novel molecular mechanism that allows Salmonella to survive. Results of their study appear in the March issue of Cell Host & Microbe. One of the body's key immune responses is to flood the infected area with antimicrobial proteins that include calprotectin, which removes zinc. Without enough of this vital element, most pathogens eventually die.

Taiwan: LPAI H5N2

16.03.2012

The Taiwanese veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza H5N2 in Nan-T'ou. The flock involved is a commercial egg type layer (45,200 bird).

Israel: Avian influenza in Cats

15.03.2012

The Israeli Veterinary Services reports an outbreak of avian influenza in cats, after eating turkey carcasses infected with avian influenza. The case was reported in Shalva the village were HPAI H5N1 was reported a week ago.

Israel: More Newcastle disease cases

12.03.2012

Amioz: Broilers, 5 weeks old Tziv'on: Broilers, 5.5 weeks old Elkosh: Commercial layers 32 weeks old Dalton: Commercial layers 32 weeks old Gan Shmuel: Turkeys 5.5 weeks old Gan Ashomron: Broiler breeders 35 weeks old Urim: Commercial layers 17 weeks old Noham: Commercial layers 61 weeks old Meleha: Broilers 3 weeks old Ram On: Broilers 3 weeks old Klahim: Broilers 3 weeks old Horshim: Broilers 3 weeks old Shaal: Broilers 3 weeks old Tamra: Broilers 3 weeks old Nir Oz: Broilers 3 weeks old Mazliah: Broilers 4 weeks old

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in South Africa

12.03.2012

The outbreak in the Greater Taung Local municipality, hit chickens belonging to five farmers - in the Pudimoe village. Additional cases were reported in Leshobo village.

South Korea reports Avian Influenza Case

12.03.2012

For the first time in nearly 10 months a suspected case of avian influenza has been reported at a poultry farm in Korea. The government says that, out of the 450 chickens on the farm in South Chungcheong Province, 45 have died so far and 100 others are currently showing symptoms of avian influenza. Officials say that, in a screening test, 6 out 10 chickens tested positive.

Hong Kong: Dead birds H5N1 positive

12.03.2012

The carcasses of a black-headed gull and a peregrine falcon found in Tuen Mun and Ma On Shan in early March have tested positive for H5N1. The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department said today the black-headed gull was collected at Castle Peak Power Station at Tuen Mun on March 2. The peregrine falcon was found at Kam Kwai House at Ma On Shan on March 3.

Indonesia: a 24 year-old woman died from avian influenza

12.03.2012

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is a 24 year-old female from Bengkulu Province. She developed fever on 23 February 2012 and was hospitalized on the following day. She had breathing difficulty, her condition deteriorated and she died on 1 March 2012.

Israel: Avian Influenza H5N1 in two farms

09.03.2012

Avian influenza H5N1 was reported from two different turkey farms in Israel. The first case is in Shalwa, a small village in shouthern Israel. The flock is 8 weeks old divided in three pens and contains 11,000 birds. The second flock, 40,000 turkeys 12 weeks old, is in Holit (Kibbutz) in the south-west of Israel (near Gaza strip). The Ministry of Agriculture orders destruction of almost 90,000 turkeys.

Salmonella down, Campylobacter up, EU figures show

09.03.2012

Salmonella infection in humans is continuing to fall across the EU, although incidence of Campylobacter infection is on the rise, according to new figures released today. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have published their annual report on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks in the European Union for 2010. The report shows that Salmonella incidence in humans fell by almost 9 per cent to 99,020 cases in 2010, marking the sixth consecutive year of decline. The bateria was found most often in chicken and turkey meat but available data indicates that Salmonella prevalence in poultry is declining at EU level. Figures for the UK reflect the EU trend, with the 9,670 cases in humans recorded in 2010, representing an 8 per cent reduction on the 10,479 cases recorded in 2009. This follows big reductions in incidence since 2006 when more than 14,000 cases were recorded. The report attributes the decrease in human salmo

Bangladesh: two new cases of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza

07.03.2012

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh has confirmed two new cases of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in the country. These are the 5th and 6th cases reported in the country since 2008.‬‪ These two cases, 26 year-old and 18 year-old males, presented with history of cough, and both have recovered. They were identified in the same live bird market surveillance site in Dhaka City as the fourth case recently reported, and were confirmed by the National Influenza Centre (NIC) of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) in Bangladesh.‬‪

Vietnam: a human infection with avian influenza H5N1

05.03.2012

The Ministry of Health has reported a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case is a 22 year-old male from Thanh Hoa province who lived and worked in Binh Duong province. He developed symptoms on 17 February 2012 and first sought medical care on 21 February 2012. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases on 23 February 2012 and received Oseltamivir upon admission. He is currently still in hospital.

H5N2 in Taiwan

04.03.2012

Animal health and quarantine officials sterilized a chicken farm in central Taiwan today after an outbreak of the H5N2 strain of avian influenza occurred there in December. The Changhua Animal Disease Control Center disinfected the egg farm, where over 54,000 birds have been culled over the past three days, to prevent the highly virulent avian influenza from spreading. The farm was the only one in the county to have had a confirmed outbreak, test results for another farm at the Tainan farm were still pending. Some 16 million egg-laying chickens are raised in Changhua. In response to accusations that the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine had covered up the highly contagious outbreak, the bureau said the Changhua administration began an investigation as soon as the abnormal number of bird deaths was reported on Dec. 27, 2011. From Dec. 31, when it imposed restrictions on transportation of the infected birds, to the day it completed its cull, the birds di

USA: Retail Meat Report 2010

02.03.2012

National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System

According to the Report The 2010 NARMS (National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System), for 2010, 5,280 retail meat samples were collected from 10 CDC FoodNet sites, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Each site collected samples from a randomized list of area grocery stores.

H5N1 in backyard poultry in Bhutan

02.03.2012

Bhutan has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza affecting backyard poultry. The outbreak, in Chakha district, killed 35 birds in January, and 86 additional poultry were culled to prevent disease spread.

Bangladesh has confirmed the fourth case of human infection with H5N1

02.03.2012

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh has confirmed the fourth case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza in the country. The case is a 40 year-old male from Dhaka City, who was identified as part of the live bird market surveillance system on 26 February 2012. The case presented with cough and currently has recovered.

Indonesia: new case of human infection with avian influenza

01.03.2012

The IHR National Focal Point in Indonesia has notified WHO of one new case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case was a 12 year-old male from Badung, Bali. He had onset of symptoms on 11 February 2012 and was admitted to a private clinic on 16 February 2012. His condition continued to worsen, resulting in severe difficulty breathing. He was referred to an avian influenza referral hospital on 20 February 2012 where he died on 21 February 2012.

Egypt: two new cases of human infection with avian influenza

28.02.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of two new cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The first case is a thirty-two year old male from Behira governorate, in the Abo Elmatameer District. He developed symptoms on 16 February 2012 and was admitted to hospital on 21 February 2012 where he received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. He died on 28 February 2012. The second case was a thirty seven year-old female from Kafr Elshihk governorate in the Kelleen District. She developed symptoms on 18 February 2012 and was admitted to hospital on 23 February 2012 where she received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. She died on 26 February 2012. Preliminary investigations into both cases with regard to the source of infection indicate close contact with sick or deceased backyard poultry at the cases' respective residences.

Avian Influenza human cases more common than thought: study

24.02.2012

Wang et al (2012) Science

WHO documented cases of avian H5N1 influenza infections in humans reported from 15 countries. Of the WHO confirmed cases, 58.6% have resulted in death (as of December 15th, 2011). These severe H5N1 infections were diagnosed using criteria developed by the WHO that are specific for H5N1 disease, but that lack the sensitivity to identify the total number of human infections. Given the fact that most H5N1 infections in poultry and in humans occur in resource-poor areas where access to health care is often arduous and expensive to obtain, Wang et al (2012) hypothesized that many people with H5N1 virus infection would not have been examined by a health provider to allow formal H5N1 disease confirmation.

Egypt: one year-old baby, infected with H5N1

24.02.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.‪ The case is a one year-old female from Gharbeia governorate. She developed symptoms on 14 February 2012 and was admitted to a hospital on 15 February 2012, where she received oseltamivir treatment upon admission. She is in good medical condition.

Mild variant avian influenza in Zuidwolde

23.02.2012

A mild variant of avian influenza has been found at a business trading in birds in Zuidwolde, Drenthe. This mild form of avian influenza was found in 160 swans intended for export. The swans had been kept in the wild and captured before being traded. Avian influenza is fairly common among wild birds. The infection was discovered when the birds were tested for export.

Egypt: a human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus

22.02.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a new case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.‪ The case is a 45 year-old female from Menofia governorate. She developed symptoms on 10 February 2012, received oseltamivir treatment on 17 February 2012 and is still recovering. The case was laboratory confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories; a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network on 18 February 2012.

Indonesia: second victim of the H5N1 virus in Greater Jakarta this year

21.02.2012

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced one new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is a 19 year-old female from Tangerang, Banten Province. She developed symptoms on 8 February 2012, was hospitalised on 12 February 2012 and died on 13 February 2012.

Vietnam: avian influenza spreads to 11 localities nationwide

19.02.2012

34,000 heads of poultry have been culled and 2 people have died as the H5N1 avian influenza has spread to 21 districts in 11 provinces and cities across the country. These are Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Soc Trang and Kien Gian. At yesterday’s meeting to review the disease situation, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, head of the committee, requested local authorities nationwide to take all possible measures to control, prevent and drive back the disease, with vaccination of poultry being the most important priority.

India: Crows are dying in Bihar from avian influenza

18.02.2012

Crows are dying in Bihar because of avian influenza H5N1. This was revealed in the report of the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), officials said. The HSADL has confirmed in its report that avian influenza was killing the crows in Gaya district. After the confirmation, the Bihar government has directed the animal husbandary department officials to begin necessary measures to deal with the situation.

Nepal: Avian influenza virus is spreading

17.02.2012

Avian influenza H5N1 is spreading to different regions in Nepal. It has been seen at Manahara of Bhaktapur, Phakphok of Ilam, Phaktep of Panchthar, Khanar of Sunsari, Ward No. 31 of Kathmandu, Charpane, Arjundhara and Pathamari of Jhapa district this year. It was proved that crows that died at City Hall of Kathmandu on January 19 had died from avian influenza, but the government had not declared it as avian influenza hit area.

Infectious Laryngotracheitis in Finland

14.02.2012

The Finnish veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Avian Infectious Laryngotracheitis at a small hobby farm in Luvia. A total of 77 birds were found susceptible, out of which a 100 per cent apparent morbidity case (that is, 77 cases) was reported.

Newcastle disease in Pakistan

11.02.2012

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) scientists have confirmed the presence of Newcastle disease (Ranikhet) in commercial poultry and wild birds. In a press statement, UVAS Quality Operations Laboratory (QOL) Director Prof Dr Tahir Yaqub said poultry industry, the second largest industry in Pakistan, was facing some disease issues these days which included Newcastle disease (Ranikhet) and Infectious Coryza.

Poultry as a Host for the Zoonotic Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni

10.02.2012

Hermans et al (2012) Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases

Campylobacteriosis is the most reported foodborne gastroenteritic disease and poses a serious health burden in industrialized countries. An article review by Dr Hermans et al, emphasis the link between poultry and Campylobacteriosis in humans. Campylobacter Disease in humans is mainly caused by the zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Due to its wide-spread occurrence in the environment, the epidemiology of Campylobacter remains poorly understood. It is generally accepted, however, that chickens are a natural host for Campylobacter jejuni, and for Campylobacter spp. in general, and that colonized broiler chicks are the primary vector for transmitting this pathogen to humans. Several potential sources and vectors for transmitting C. jejuni to broiler flocks have been identified. Initially, one or a few broilers can become colonized at an age of > 2 weeks until the end of rearing, after which the infection will rapidly spread throughout the entire flock. Such a flock is generally col

Two new outbreaks of Newcastle disease in Israel

09.02.2012

The first outbreak was diagnosed in Kfar Barukh, a 3 weeks old broiler flock (20,000 birds). Kfar Barukh is a village in the Northern District of Israel. The second outbreak was detected in a commercial layer flock 29 weeks old, in Safsufa (=Kfar Hoshen -in Northern Israel).

Vietnam: Three new H5N1 outbreaks in birds

09.02.2012

Vietnamese officials have confirmed three recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in two provinces, according to a report filed with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The first outbreak began Jan 29 in Quang Tri province and killed 100 birds. Officials culled the remaining 200 birds to prevent disease spread.

Vietnam: a human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus

08.02.2012

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case was a 26 year-old pregnant female from Soc Trang province. She developed symptoms on 23 January 2012, and was admitted to hospital on 25 January. She was treated with Oseltamivir on 27 January, she died on 28 January. Confirmatory test results for influenza A (H5N1) were obtained on 30 January by Pasteur Institute, the WHO National Influenza Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

Dubai bans raw eggs in ready-to-eat products

07.02.2012

Dubai eateries have been barred from using raw eggs in ready-to-eat products after authorities found them as a cause for many Salmonella infections. The Food Control Department of the Dubai Municipality has introduced new regulations that restrict the use of raw and under-cooked eggs and make it mandatory for declaring their use in food labels or menus. Chocolate mousse, tiramisu, garlic paste, freshly-made mayonnaise and some other deserts and pastries are among the ready-to-eat items through which unpasteurised eggs could cause Salmonella infection.

Avian Influenza detected in Eastern Nepal

05.02.2012

The deaths of chickens in Sunsari and Ilam districts in the past few weeks were due to avian influenza, tests in England have confirmed. Tissue samples were sent to England after around 6,500 chickens in two poultry farms in Sunsari and chicken of locals in Fakfok VDC-2, Ilam died suddenly. The report from England received on Sunday confirmed that the fowls had died due to avian influenza H5N1.

Avian Influenza in Sri Lanka

03.02.2012

Avian influenza was detected in Sri Lanka, after a large number of fowl had died at a farm in Bingiriya, Kurunegala in the North Western Province. The fowl deaths were due to H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza virus.

Japan has banned imports of poultry from the state of New York

03.02.2012

Japan has banned imports of poultry from the state of New York following the discovery of two cases of low-pathogenic avian influenza detected at a live bird market in January, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said.

US: Four swans die from avian influenza virus

02.02.2012

Four swans found dead in Massachusetts had the avian influenza virus, authorities said on Wednesday, they were tested positive of H1 strain. State and federal wildlife officials say four of the 12 swans found dead at a Westborough pond recently have tested positive for avian influenza H1.

Hong Kong: 2 dead birds test positive for H5 virus

02.02.2012

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said that Preliminary testing of a dead peregrine falcon and a dead black-headed gull have tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus. A spokesman for the city's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that further confirmatory tests are being conducted.

Vietnam confirms 2nd human avian influenza death in a month

02.02.2012

The Mekong Delta's Soc Trang province has reported another avian A/H5N1 influenza death, the 2nd case in Viet Nam in 2012, according to the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health. This is also the 2nd person having succumbed to the H5N1 virus in the Mekong Delta this year (2012) after the case in Kien Giang province, said Nguyen Van Binh, head of the department.

New cases of Newcastle disease are reported in Israel

02.02.2012

New cases of Newcastle disease are reported in Israel Eitan: a 3 weeks old broiler flock of 87,000 birds. Kefar Warburg: a free range layer flock.

Australia: an outbreak of Newcastle Disease

30.01.2012

The Australian veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease in Melbourbe, Victoria. The affected population consists of a spotted turtle dove and a sparrow hawk. PMV-1 infection has been confirmed in a sparrow hawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) in close contact with known infected pigeons in urban Melbourne. Sparrow hawks are known to feed on pigeons in Australia. PMV-1 infection has also been confirmed in a feral spotted turtle dove (Streptopelia chinensis). In the Victorian urban environment spotted turtle doves are commonly found in close association with feral pigeons.

More cases of Newcastle disease in Israel

29.01.2012

The Israeli veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease in Kissufim (southern Israel). The affected broiler flock is 3 weeks of age.

Prevalence of Salmonella in Japanese broiler flocks

28.01.2012

Australia: Avian influenza H5 found at Victorian poultry farm

27.01.2012

Avian influenza has been detected at two sites north-west of Melbourne. The Department of Primary Industries has quarantined two sites owned by a commercial duck farmer after birds there tested positive to low pathogenic avian influenza. The farms are believed to be in Gisborne and Mickleham. The virus was found at one of the farms, but due to the shared ownership, both have been quarantined. At least 10,000 ducks will have to be destroyed.

Egypt: Avian influenza control campaign

26.01.2012

A nationwide campaign to stop the spread of H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt is to be launched by the government in a few weeks, say officials, but details are still sketchy.

Hong Kong: Goose carcass found in Sham Tseng tests positive for H5N1 virus

26.01.2012

A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (January 26) that a goose carcass found in Sham Tseng was confirmed to be H5N1 positive after laboratory testing. The goose carcass was found and collected at Anglers' Beach, 13 milestone, Castle Peak Road, Sham Tseng, on January 20. It was highly decomposed when found and required a series of tests before H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed today.

Israel announces outbreak of Newcastle disease in turkeys

25.01.2012

The Israeli Veterinary Services confirmed the presence of Newcastle disease in a meat-type turkey flock in Hazav (Southern Israel). The flock is 8 weeks old.

China: a human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection

24.01.2012

The Ministry of Health of China has notified WHO of a human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection.‬‪ The case is a 39 year-old male from Guiyan City, Guizhou Province. He developed symptoms on 6 January 2012 and was admitted to hospital but was in critical condition and died on 22 January 2012.‬‪

China: avian influenza claims second victim in a month

22.01.2012

A man in southwest China who contracted the avian influenza virus died on Sunday, the second human death from the virulent disease in the country in just under a month.

A multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak at Mexican restaurant chain

20.01.2012

USA - CDC

A multistate outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infections, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, all linked to a mysterious Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain known as Taco Bell chain. The investigation was unable to identify a specific food item as the culprit, but data indicated that contamination likely occurred before the product reached Taco Bell locations. The epidemic curve seen in the outbreak is consistent with those observed in past produce-related outbreaks—with a sharp increase and decline of ill persons that spanned one to two months. Ground beef was found to be an unlikely source due to the handling and cooking processes used by Taco Bell chain. This outbreak now appears to be over.

Vietnam: Man dies of avian influenza

20.01.2012

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case was an 18 year-old male from Kien Giang Province. He developed symptoms on 10 January 2012 and was admitted to hospital on 14 January 2012 but died on 16 January 2012. Confirmatory test results for influenza A (H5N1) were obtained on 17 January 2012 by Pasteur Institute, the WHO National Influenza Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

Newcastle disease continue to strike poultry farms in Israel

19.01.2012

Four new cases of Newcastle disease are reported in poultry farms in Israel, and it seems to be everywhere. Netiv Haasara (a village in southern Israel): Poults, 6 weeks old. Ramat Magshimim (Golan Heights): Poults, 5 weeks old. Revaya (Beit Shean Valley, in northern Israel): Broilers 4 weeks old. Nevatim (Southern Israel): 4 weeks old broilers.

Vietnam reports avian influenza death

19.01.2012

Vietnam confirmed its first human death from avian influenza in nearly two years. Test results confirmed that an 18-year-old Vietnamese man died of the disease after being hospitalized a day earlier.

Indonesia and Egypt report cases of H5N1 in humans

19.01.2012

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced one new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The case is a 5 year-old female from Jakarta Province. She was identified by a surveillance team during an investigation in the area on 7 January 2012 and was referred to a hospital. On 13 January 2012, she had breathing difficulties. Her condition deteriorated and she died on 16 January 2012. Epidemiological investigation indicated that she was a family contact of case 183, and frequently had direct contact with the same pigeons as that case, and the same household environment. Surveillance of other contacts has not identified further cases. Of the 184 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 152 have been fatal.

Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated with Exposure to Clinical and Teaching Microbiology Laboratories

18.01.2012

On October 30, 2010, PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, detected a multistate cluster of Salmonella Typhimurium infections with a particular pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern and other genetic characteristics, referred to here as strain X. In December, the New Mexico Department of Health identified 3 ill persons infected with strain X. One was a student and the 2 others were children of students in microbiology courses held at two different community college campuses. CDC collaborated with public health officials in several states to investigate this multistate cluster of Salmonella Typhimurium infections associated with exposure to clinical and teaching microbiology laboratories. Investigators used DNA analysis of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing to identify cases of illness that might be related.

Cambodia: a human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus

16.01.2012

The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia has announced a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. The case was a 2 year-old male from Banteay Meanchey Province. He developed symptoms on 3 January 2012 and was admitted to hospital on 9 January 2012. He is on Tamiflu and has been ventilated. There have been reports that the boy was exposed to sick poultry in his village. He is the 19th person in Cambodia to become infected with the H5N1 virus; to date, 16 of these cases have died from complications of the disease.

Avian influenza empties South Africa's ostrich farms

13.01.2012

South Africa's ostrich farmers are struggling to cope after thousands of their birds were culled during one of the country's worst outbreaks of avian influenza. Exports to Europe: the biggest market for South Africa's ostrich meat, have crashed since the EU banned the import of ostrich meat. Oudtshoorn, a town about 450km (279 miles) from Cape Town, is the heartland of the country's ostrich industry. The ostrich industry in this area is responsible for the direct employment of 20,000 people. South Africa's ostriches are bred mainly in two provinces - the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. In Oudtshoorn alone 150,000 birds are reared in an area measuring over 20,000 sq km (7,722 sq miles). With each passing month the industry is losing 108m rand ($13m; £8.2m).

Pakistan: avian influenza in zoo peacocks

12.01.2012

Pakistani authorities reported that 15 peacocks at Lahore's Safari Park have died of H5N1 avian influenza. Chickens on nearby poultry farms had previously been found to have the disease.

H5/H7 Low Pathogenicity in Italy

12.01.2012

Epidemiological situation from 1st November to 31st December 2011

H7: One outbreak of H7 LPAI was detected in a farm located in Soveria Mannelli municipality (Calabria region) rearing 439 birds. 150 hens were culled on 14th Dec 2011. H5: 7 outbreaks of H5 LPAI were detected. 6 in rural farms and one in industrial meat-turkey farm. Four regions were involved: Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Campania and Calabria. The case in the meat-turkey farm was reported in Viterbo province (Lazio region), with mild respiratory symptoms, with low mortality rate (virus was not isolated).

Eggs likely source of Australia salmonella outbreak

11.01.2012

Eggs are the suspected source of a salmonella outbreak at a Ballarat pizzeria that left at least 19 people sick, and possibly one death (a 82-year-old man). The salmonella outbreak has been traced to undercooked pizzas containing egg. The Department of Health says Rizzo's Pizza was closed for one week after investigators found a cluster of salmonella cases across Ballarat dating back to the week before Christmas

Switzerland Reports Newcastle Disease Outbreak

11.01.2012

An outbreak of Newcastle Disease has been reported in Switzarland. The affected population consists of hobby flock with ornamental pigeons (Takla- and Adana-pigeons).

H5N1 death in Indonesia

10.01.2012

A 24-year-old Indonesian man infected with avian influenza died in the capital Jakarta. Tests confirmed that the man, who died Jan 7, had H5N1 avian influenza.

UK: Salmonella prevalence on commercial turkey breeding and fattening farms

09.01.2012

Snow et al (2011) Vet Rec

A total of 29 breeding turkey holdings and 317 fattening turkey holdings were sampled between October 2006 and September 2007 in order to establish the baseline prevalence of Salmonella in turkeys in the UK. The weighted holding level Salmonella prevalence was found to be 20.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 8.6 to 40.3 per cent) in breeding turkeys and 37.7 per cent (95 per cent CI 33.4 to 42.3 per cent) in fattening turkeys.

Taiwan: H5N2 avian influenza at Changhua poultry farm

07.01.2012

Taiwan has reported its first H5N2 avian influenza case this year after test results confirmed that chickens at a poultry farm in Changhua County were infected with the virus.

Exposure to poultry oncogenic viruses and the risks of deaths from liver and pancreatic cancer

06.01.2012

Felini et al (2011) Annals of Epidemiology 21:755-766

Certain viruses naturally infect and cause cancer in chickens and turkeys. They include the avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses (ALSV), reticuloendotheliosis viruses, and Marek’s disease virus. Some of these viruses are among the most potent cancer-causing agents known in animals. Humans are widely exposed to these viruses from contact with live poultry and their raw products including eggs; from ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked products; or through vaccination with vaccines grown in eggs, such as measles, mumps, influenza, yellow fever, and typhus vaccines. It has been shown that exogenous ALSV contaminated yellow fever vaccines caused malignant tumors when injected into chickens. Some but not all studies have reported the presence of antibodies to these viruses in the sera of poultry workers and subjects in the general population.

Avian influenza in Bhutan

06.01.2012

Officials in Bhutan have culled 395 chickens and destroyed 447 eggs after an avian influenza outbreak in Tsimasham in Chukha district. On Dec 30 and 31, 87 birds died on a backyard farm, and authorities culled birds on that and nearby farms Jan 4 and 5 after Bhutan's national center for animal health confirmed avian influenza.

Foodborne outbreak and nonmotile Salmonella enterica variant, France

05.01.2012

Le Hello et al., (2012) Emerging Inf Dis 18: 132-134

This study reports a food-related outbreak of salmonellosis in humans caused by a nonmotile variant of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium in France in 2009. This variant genetically distinct from the emerging monophasic variant described worldwide, has been circulating in laying hens, whose contaminated eggs had likely caused food poisoning (homemade tiramisu prepared with raw eggs).

Egypt: a 42 year-old male died from avian influenza

05.01.2012

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has notified WHO of a case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.‪ The case is a 42 year-old male from Menofia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 16 December 2011 and was admitted to hospital on 21 December 2011, where he received oseltamivir treatment. He was in critical condition and died on 22 December 2011.

Germany: fewer salmonella detected on poultry

03.01.2012

Salmonella are among the common bacteria found on food which can cause serious gastrointestinal infections in humans. For this reason, the European Commission launched an EU-wide salmonella control programme in 2008. The annual national status report forms part of this programme. In Germany, the competent state authorities and food business operators take samples in agricultural establishments. The figures for 2010 clearly indicate that salmonella control has been successful for breeding poultry, laying hens, broilers and turkeys. Compared to the salmonella findings in 2009 and 2008 and those of the baseline studies from the years 2004 to 2007, the numbers for the control-relevant salmonella types S. Infantis, S. Hadar, S. Virchow as well as S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium are on the decrease.

Hong Kong: Dead birds test positive for avian influenza

03.01.2012

Two more dead wild birds have tested positive for avian influenza. The government says further tests are being conducted to confirm the initial findings. The two dead birds were both black-headed gulls - a common winter migratory species. One of them was found in Tuen Mun last Friday (30/12/11) and the other was discovered on Lantau on Sunday (01/01/12).

Can a Live Mycoplasma vaccine be transmitted vertically ?

03.01.2012

A study published in Avian Diseases, reports a field case where several commercial broiler flocks in northeastern Georgia that were the progeny of the same parent flock were diagnosed as Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) positive by serology, culture, and PCR. The parent flock had been vaccinated with ts-11 live MG vaccine. Several isolates were obtained from the MG-positive broiler flocks, and these isolates were indistinguishable from the ts-11 vaccine strain by the molecular strain differentiation methods used.

Newcastle disease continue to spread in poultry farms in Israel

02.01.2012

Five new cases of Newcastle disease are reported from poultry farms in Israel: Ortal: a kibbutz in the northern Golan Heights, 4 weeks old broilers. Beit Yatir: A village in the southern Hebron Hills, 4 weeks old broilers. Umm el-Fahem: an Arab city, located in the North part of Israel, overlooking Wadi Ara. 7 weeks old broilers. Hayogev: 4 weeks old broiler flock (~200,000 birds). Hyogev is a moshav in Northern Israel. Glil Yam: 6 weeks old broiler flock.

China: Man dies from avian influenza in southern China

01.01.2012

Avian influenza H5N1

A Chinese bus driver (named Chen) who tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus died Saturday (31/12/2011) in Shenzhen a city bordering Hong Kong. Shenzhen is separated by a small river from Hong Kong, where thousands of birds have been slaughtered after two were confirmed to have the virus last week. During the month prior to his fever, Chen, 39, apparently had no direct contact with poultry and did not travel out of Shenzhen, a metropolis of 10 million people.

Salmonella in Poultry Production in GB

01.01.2012

Source: Veterinary Laboratories Agency

An annual report on salmonella from livestock species in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Chickens: Incidents of Salmonella reported in chickens decreased by 13.5% compared with 2010; The most commonly reported serovars from chickens were S. Montevideo (86 reports; 21.0% of total chicken incidents), S. Kedougou (79 reports; 19.3% of total chicken incidents), S. Senftenberg (48 reports; 11.7% of total chicken incidents), S. Livingstone (42 reports; 10.2% of total chicken incidents) and S. Mbandaka (39 reports; 9.5% of total chicken incidents). Most of these incidents were in broiler flocks sampled for statutory purposes. There were eight reports of S. Enteritidis (2.0% of total chicken incidents) in 2011 compared with 18 reports (3.8% of total chicken incidents) in 2010.