11.06.2015

During the active monitoring of the ornithofauna in the surroundings of Ubsu-Nur Lake, a few wild birds were found dead. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus H5N1 was detected and isolated in samples from carcasses of two great crested grebes and two common terns.
No HPAI virus H5N1 has been detected in samples from healthy migratory birds of different species: great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus), great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), gadwall (Anas strepera), common tern (Sterna hirundo), common coot (Fulica atra), black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus). Sequence analysis of the isolates showed that they belonged to the Asian HPAI virus H5N1 lineage, clade 2.3.2.1, and had close similarity with previous Russian H5N1 virus isolates of years 2014-2015.