Germany - Avian influenza suspected in farm in Schleswig-Holstein - H5N8 confirmed

[Gert van der Hoek]

10.11.2016 Bird flu is a growing problem in northern Germany. For the first time there is now the suspicion of avian influenza in dead animals of a small operation.

For the first time there since Thursday of suspected bird flu in dead animals a poultry farm in Schleswig-Holstein. In the inventory from the eastern part of the country 18 turkeys have died as Agriculture Minister Robert Habeck (Green) announced. Other farm animals have to be culled. Samples of the dead animals had previously tested positive for influenza A virus subtype H5. Final determination of avian influenza by the national reference laboratory is still pending. Habeck spoke of bad news. "Given the high aggressiveness of the virus was to be expected of such a development," the minister said. She was very worrying. The Green Party already informed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture on the situation.

The staff of the competent authorities in the country were working at full speed to keep the spread of this disease to a minimum, Habeck said. "We can not exclude that there are more cases in livestock farming."

set up restricted areas and monitoring areas Previously was already known that the avian flu has spread to the Rendsburg-Eckernf?rde. There is a suspicion of bird flu in dead ducks was confirmed. Restricted and observation areas are established to prevent skipping to livestock numbers. So far there are in the district of Pl?n restricted areas and viewing areas.
In Schleswig-Holstein more than 240 dead wild birds are in Pl?n since last week been discovered - most had the avian pathogen H5N8. In Segeberg Circle dead wild birds were discovered at two waters also. There, the lab results are pending, said a spokeswoman for the district on Thursday. According to the Ministry are from the Friedrich L?ffler Institute (FLI) now before a total of 33 results of animals of the Pl?ner Lake District. All the sent to the FLI suspect samples tested positive for the H5N8 type.

[Gert van der Hoek]

H5N8 confirmed in commercial farm

12 nov 2016

For the first time a commercial farm is affected by the current bird flu epidemic. The high pathogenic H5N8 variant was confirmed in a plant for breeding eggs in Schleswig-Holstein.

"The situation is worrying," said the Agriculture Minister Robert Habeck (Greens). "We can only hope that this is an individual case." All 30,000 animals of the farm in the small town of Grumby are to be killed from Sunday.

The first outbreaks of domestic poultry were reported on Friday at two far smaller farms in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and L?beck-Ivendorf (Schleswig-Holstein). In view of the spread of bird flu, Federal Minister of Economics Christian Schmidt (CSU) convened the Central Crisis Critters. "Due to the current developments, we need faster, more efficient coordination and decisions," he explained.
The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG) would prefer a nationwide stabling obligation for poultry. "We have to be faster than the virus spreads," explained ZDG Vice President Friedrich Otto Ripke.

How the pathogen could get into Grumby's isolated plant, which is isolated from the outside world, is still unclear.There is a lot of speculation, said Minister Habeck. "But they do not help at this point." The responsible Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) now wants to send a team of experts to clarify how the virus could get into the stables. Around the courtyard was a barrier zone of three kilometers and an observation area of another seven kilometers.

Schleswig-Holstein now wants to further increase the safety precautions - in addition to the provisions of the Avian Influenza Regulation. "We will also prescribe biosafety measures, ie strict hygiene regulations, for smaller poultry holdings," Habeck said.

For the first time, the H5N8 variant of the current epidemic in Germany was detected on 8th November in the case of terminated waterflies in Schleswig-Holstein. Wild birds have also been found in Baden-W?rttemberg, Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The authorities of many federal states responded with stabling areas mainly near lakes and rivers. This is to prevent contamination by faeces or contaminated water.
At least seven countries have reported avian influenza in poultry or poultry. The pathogen is considered harmless to humans, but is a significant threat to domestic poultry.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Bird flu in wild birds in Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein

13 11 2016

The avian influenza continues to spread. As a result, two areas have now been set up in the Segeberg district. Cause in both cases were found dead wild birds that had entered the virus. The urban area of Bad Segeberg is also affected.

[Pathfinder]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Germany

Information received on 11/11/2016 from Dr. Karin Schwabenbauer, Ministerial Dirigentin and Chief Veterinary Officer , Directorate of Animal Health, Animal Welfare, Bundesministerium f?r Ern?hrung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) , Bonn, Germany

Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 1 Date of start of the event 07/11/2016 Date of confirmation of the event 08/11/2016 Report date 11/11/2016 Date submitted to OIE 11/11/2016 Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence 09/2015 Manifestation of disease Clinical disease Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N8 Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to the whole country Related reports Immediate notification (09/11/2016) Follow-up report No. 1 (11/11/2016)

New outbreaks (1)

Outbreak 1 (16-015-00021) L?beck, L?beck, Stadt, SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN Date of start of the outbreak 09/11/2016 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Farm Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 110 18 18 92 0 Affected population 18 turkeys, 25 geese, 67 ducks - the affected species are turkeys.

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 110 18 18 92 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds 16.36% 16.36% 100.00% 100.00% *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 poultry have been culled and safely disposed of on 10 November 2016. No poultry or poultry products have been dispatched.

Control measures Measures applied Movement control inside the country Screening Disinfection / Disinfestation Traceability Quarantine Stamping out Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone Control of wildlife reservoirs Zoning 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 Friedrich-Loeffler Institute (National laboratory) Birds real-time PCR 11/11/2016 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=21524