Belize - Low pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N2 in Poultry detected in Cayo District

[Gert van der Hoek]

Avian Influenza in Poultry detected in Cayo District

Friday, January 16th, 2015



15th January 2015



As a result of BAHA?S active surveillance for Avian Influenza, a limited outbreak of Avian Influenza Type A in poultry has been detected in two (2) farms in Spanish Lookout. Containment measures already in effect prohibit poultry and poultry products from exiting the affected farms. There are very little clinical signs in the affected birds and this suggests a low pathogenic infection . BAHA has heightened its surveillance at all other poultry farms.

Samples have been sent to a reference laboratory in the USA for confirmation and subtyping. BAHA expects to have the results in 4 days. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.

The BAHA, Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture, Ministry of Health and the Poultry Industry are collaborating in a coordinated response against this limited outbreak. Commercial and backyard poultry farmers across the country are encouraged to step up their biosecurity measures and to notify BAHA of any unusual occurrence in their flocks.

BAHA wishes to reassure the public that poultry meat and eggs are safe for human consumption. BAHA and its partners are taking all the necessary measures to address this disease outbreak. Although it cannot be confirmed at this time, wild bird migration is the most likely source of the infection.

Enquiries can be made by calling the helpline number ? 605-2100. Contact person is the Chief Veterinary Officer.

[Pathfinder]

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Belize

Information received on 23/01/2015 from Dr. Miguel Angel DePaz, Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Department, Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Belize, Belize

Summary Report type Immediate notification Date of start of the event 03/12/2014 Date of pre-confirmation of the event 14/01/2015 Report date 23/01/2015 Date submitted to OIE 23/01/2015 Reason for notification First occurrence of a listed disease Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N2 Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to the whole country

New outbreaks (1)

Outbreak 1 (CY1501) Spanish Lookout, Cayo, Spanish Lookout, CAYO Date of start of the outbreak 03/12/2014 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Village Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 17400 11572 0 0 0 Affected population Broiler breeder farms with flock ages being 22 weeks, 38 weeks and 39 weeks. Affected flocks have not shown any clinical signs.

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 17400 11572 0 0 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds 66.51% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive Epidemiological comments All breeder flocks are routinely sampled for avian influenza under the Belize Poultry Improvement Plan Avian Influenza Programme. Hence affected flocks were detected under routine monitoring as there are no clinical signs associated with the event. Spanish Lookout is a major poultry production area in Belize and has 14 breeder flocks with a total of 63,800 birds and an unknown number of layer flocks and broilers.

Control measures Measures applied Control of wildlife reservoirs Quarantine Movement control inside the country Screening Vaccination prohibited No treatment of affected animals Measures to be applied Zoning Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s) Modified stamping out

Diagnostic test results Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Belize (National laboratory) Birds agar-gel precipitation (AGP) test 14/01/2015 Positive National Veterinary Services Laboratory, USDA, United States of America (OIE?s Reference Laboratory) Birds haemagglutination inhibition test (HIT) 22/01/2015 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=17037

[Gert van der Hoek]

From OIE-report, dated feb 10 2015:

Surveillance in Spanish Lookout detected further antibody positive premises. To date there are 12 premises that tested positive on AGID. The affected premises include broiler breeders, layers and broilers and are all localised to the south west area of Spanish Lookout.

Antibody positive birds submitted to reference laboratory were negative for avian influenza virus.

Sentinel birds have been placed in antibody positive flocks to detect the virus, if present. Antibody positive flocks have not shown clinical signs of avian influenza. AGID testing of village flocks around Spanish Lookout and in commercial flocks in other major commercial poultry communities have given negative results.


AGID = Agar Gel Immunodiffusion a relatively simple testmethod for detection of antibodies

[Pathfinder]

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Belize

Information received on 13/05/2015 from Dr. Miguel Angel DePaz, Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Department, Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Belize, Belize

Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 2 Date of start of the event 03/12/2014 Date of confirmation of the event 14/01/2015 Report date 13/05/2015 Date submitted to OIE 13/05/2015 Reason for notification First occurrence of a listed disease Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N2 Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to the whole country Related reports Immediate notification (23/01/2015) Follow-up report No. 1 (10/02/2015) Follow-up report No. 2 (13/05/2015)

New outbreaks (2)

Outbreak 1 (CY1502) Spanish Lookout area, Buenavista, CAYO Date of start of the outbreak 31/01/2015 Outbreak status Resolved (15/04/2015) Epidemiological unit Village Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 1313 18 0 1313 0 Affected population Backyard poultry in a village bordering Spanish Lookout

Outbreak 2 (CY1503) Spanish Lookout area, Cayo, Billy White, CAYO Date of start of the outbreak 24/02/2015 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Village Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 2000 660 0 660 0 Affected population Commercial layer flock in a village bordering Spanish Lookout.

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 2 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 3313 678 0 1973 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds 20.46% 0.00% 0.00% 59.55% *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive Epidemiological comments Virus was isolated from sentinel birds. These viruses were classified by the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Iowa (United States of America) as North American LPAI H5N2 virus 98.8% similar to A/CK/Mexico/2012 H5N2. In the Spanish Lookout outbreak, to date there is a total of 23 flocks affected. These flocks include breeders, layers, broilers and hobby birds. All positive flocks have been depopulated. On-going surveillance in the last 21 days has not detected any more positive flocks. BAHA (Belize Agricultural Health Authority) continuously monitors all commercial poultry flocks in the country for avian influenza.

Control measures Measures applied Stamping out Quarantine Movement control inside the country Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s) 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 Diagnostic Laboratory (National laboratory) Birds agar-gel precipitation (AGP) test 02/02/2015 Positive Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (National laboratory) Birds agar-gel precipitation (AGP) test 25/02/2015 Positive National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (OIE?s Reference Laboratory) Birds virus isolation 14/02/2015 Positive National Veterinary Services Laboratory, USDA (OIE?s Reference Laboratory) Birds real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 14/02/2015 Positive

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

.../

http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Reviewreport/Review?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=17551