​ Namibia - Deaths of penguins on Halifax Island beach suspected to be linked to bird flu - HP H5N8 confirmed by OIE

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Bird flu symptoms detected in endangered seabirds

News - National | 2019-01-31
by Luqman Cloete

THE deaths of penguins at the Halifax Island beach some 10 kilometres outside L?deritz near Diaz Point, about 100 metres off the mainland, are suspected to be linked to bird flu.

The ministry of fisheries' spokesperson, De Wet Siluka yesterday confirmed that symptoms of bird flu were detected from the live and rehabilitated penguins' observations, and it is suspected it might be the cause of the penguins' deaths.

The recent inspection, conducted on 27 January, found similar symptoms in one of the swift tern birds on the same island, he added.

But, Siluka said, central veterinary laboratory results expected soon were still needed to determine the exact cause of the seabirds' mortalities.

The deaths of the penguins were discovered late last month, and about 250 mostly adult birds have been reported dead.

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https://www.namibian.com.na/75197/read/Bird-flu-symptoms-detected-in-endangered-seabirds

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Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (infection with) (non-poultry including wild birds), Namibia

Information received on 12/02/2019 from Dr Adrianatus Florentius Maseke, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Windhoek, Namibia

Summary Report type Immediate notification Date of start of the event 02/02/2019 Date of confirmation of the event 07/02/2019 Report date 12/02/2019 Date submitted to OIE 12/02/2019 Reason for notification First occurrence of a listed disease in the country Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N8 Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (basic) This event pertains to a defined zone within the country

New outbreaks (2)

Outbreak 1 (NAM/01/AIW) Halifax Island, Luderitz, Luderitz, Karas Date of start of the outbreak 02/02/2019 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Other Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 7000 223 217 6 0 Affected population A population of about 7,000 African penguins at a breeding site of the Halifax Island. It is a small rocky island about 100m (330ft) from the mainland, near L?deritz.

Outbreak 2 Luderitz Marine Research Quarantine Centre, Luderitz, Luderitz, Karas Date of start of the outbreak 03/02/2019 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Other Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 2 2 0 2 0 Affected population Two African penguins, collected from Halifax Island, showed neurological signs that were highly suspected to be of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 2 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 7002 225 217 8 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 3.21% 3.10% 96.44% 3.21% *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive Source of infection might be migratory wild birds. Epidemiological comments African penguins (Jackass penguins) at a conservation site (breeding site) on the Halifax Island, which is a small rocky island about 100 m (330 ft) from the mainland, near L?deritz, showed signs suspected to be of highly pathogenic avian influenza. These were neurological signs (head tilting, twitching, incoordination), corneal opacity and lethargic/comatose behaviour. The disease is currently limited to African penguins only; no other wild birds are affected at the Halifax Island.

Control measures Measures applied Surveillance outside containment and/or protection zone Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone Quarantine Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste Selective killing and disposal Disinfection Vaccination prohibited No treatment of affected animals Measures to be applied No other measures

Diagnostic test results Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result Central Veterinary Laboratory (National laboratory) Jackass Penguin reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 07/02/2019 Positive

Future Reporting The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

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http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Reviewreport/Review?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=29510

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Fears that bird-flu at L?deritz is spreading

| Namib Times
9 hours ago - Eileen van der Schyff.

Eight penguin carcasses were found on Ichaboe-Island off L?deritz...

http://namibtimes.net/fears-that-bird-flu-at-luderitz-is-spreading/

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Bird flu continues to wipe out penguins

News - National | 2019-02-28Page no: 5
by Luqman Cloete
...
The L?deritz Maritime Research Group estimated on its Facebook page that more than 500 penguins have died since the first bird flu outbreak towards the end of last year.

?Unfortunately, there is another confirmation that the mortality is continuing unabated. As of today, 345 penguin carcasses, excluding chicks, were recovered from the island and nearby beaches... the real toll is by now probably in excess of 500 birds, mostly breeding adults,? a recent post on the group's Facebook page reads.
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Dr Jean-Paul Roux, a member of the research group, who spoke to The Namibian yesterday, said the damage in terms of the dying penguins might be more serious because it is not known whether the outbreak had spread to the three adjacent Possession, Ichaboe and Mercury islands.
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https://www.namibian.com.na/76088/read/Bird-flu-continues-to-wipe-out-penguins

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Bird flu continues to kill penguins ?27 penguins found dead

NUUSITA ASHIPALA FRONT PAGE NEWS OSHANA
2019-03-11 09:29:18 8 hours ago 693 0


L?DERITZ- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources scientists found 27 penguins dead and three sick birds showing symptoms of Bird flu, even with the efforts from the ministry to control the spread of the virus.
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https://neweralive.na/posts/bird-flu-continues-to-kill-penguins-27-penguins-found-dead

[Shiloh]

Source: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/04/bi...ng-nearly-500/

Bird flu in Namibia?s penguins wanes, after killing nearly 500
by John C. Cannon on 24 April 2019

More than 450 African penguins, an IUCN-listed endangered animal, have died in an outbreak of bird flu on three islands off the coast of Namibia.
The virus, H5N8, is thought to have been introduced to the colonies, which hold 96 percent of Namibia?s penguins, by another bird traveling from South Africa, where a similar outbreak occurred in 2018.
The disease appears to be abating, and researchers are hopeful that the country?s penguins will recover.
However, they continue to face threats from food shortages caused by overfishing and climate change...

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Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (infection with) (non-poultry including wild birds), Namibia

Information received on 20/06/2019 from Dr Adrianatus Florentius Maseke, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Windhoek, Namibia

Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 1 (Final report) Date of start of the event 02/02/2019 Date of confirmation of the event 07/02/2019 Report date 20/06/2019 Date submitted to OIE 20/06/2019 Date event resolved 20/06/2019 Reason for notification First occurrence of a listed disease Manifestation of disease Clinical disease Causal agent Highly pathogenic influenza A virus Serotype H5N8 Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (basic) This event pertains to a defined zone within the country Related reports Immediate notification (12/02/2019) Follow-up report No. 1 (20/06/2019)

New outbreaks (3)

Outbreak 1 Halifax Island, Luderitz, Luderitz, Karas Date of start of the outbreak 20/02/2019 Outbreak status Resolved (20/06/2019) Epidemiological unit Other Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 174 174 0 0

Outbreak 2 Ichaboe Island, Luderitz, Luderitz, Karas Date of start of the outbreak 20/02/2019 Outbreak status Resolved (20/06/2019) Epidemiological unit Other Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 45 45 0 0

Outbreak 3 Mercury Island, Luderitz, Luderitz, Karas Date of start of the outbreak 20/06/2019 Outbreak status Resolved (20/06/2019) Epidemiological unit Other Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 19 19 0 0

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 3 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) 238 238 0 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Jackass Penguin:Spheniscus demersus(Spheniscidae) ** ** 100.00% ** *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter **Not calculated because of missing information

Epidemiology Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Wild migratory water fowl Epidemiological comments No more cases were reported and the event is resolved.

Control measures Measures applied Surveillance outside containment and/or protection zone Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone Quarantine Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste Disinfection Vaccination prohibited No treatment of affected animals Measures to be applied No other measures

Diagnostic test results Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result Central Veterinary Laboratory (National laboratory) Jackass Penguin reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 22/02/2019 Positive

Future Reporting The event is resolved. No more reports will be submitted.

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http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Reviewreport/Review?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=30812