Ireland - Avian influenza H5N6 confirmed in a white tailed sea eagle found dead on Cribby Island, Mountshannon, Co. Clare

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Irish Farmers Journal / News / News / Suspected third bird flu case in Co Clare

Suspected third bird flu case in Co Clare

By Thomas Hubert on 11 March 2018

A wild bird has died on Lough Derg, with initial tests showing bird flu as the cause of death after two previous cases of a deadly strain of the virus were confirmed in recent weeks.

The volunteer group supporting the re-introduction of white-tailed sea eagles in Mountshannon, Co Clare, has announced the death of a female bird of that species known as Saoirse.

"Toxicology reports confirmed avian influenza (bird flu) as the cause of death," the group said on its Facebook page.

The Department of Agriculture has not yet confirmed whether this bird died of the deadly H5N6 strain of the virus...

https://www.farmersjournal.ie/suspected-third-bird-flu-case-in-co-clare-354263

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Update on Avian Influenza 07/2018
12 March 2018

Third wild bird positive for H5N6 in Ireland
 Avian influenza subtype H5N6 has been confirmed in a white tailed sea eagle that was found
dead on Cribby Island, Mountshannon, Co. Clare.
 The bird was found on the 06 March 2018.
 This is the third positive wild bird finding in Ireland this year.

In addition the strain of H5N6 that was detected in the second wild bird in Ireland on 06/03/2018 (a
common buzzard) has been confirmed as highly pathogenic, as expected.
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https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/animalhealthwelfare/diseasecontrols/avianinfluenzabirdflu/news/2018/Update7AvianInfluenza130318.pdf

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

Information received on 16/03/2018 from Dr Martin Blake, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Dublin, Ireland

Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 2 Date of start of the event 31/01/2018 Date of confirmation of the event 09/02/2018 Report date 16/03/2018 Date submitted to OIE 16/03/2018 Reason for notification New strain of a listed disease in the country Causal agent Highly pathogenic influenza A virus Serotype H5N6 Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to a defined zone within the country Related reports Immediate notification (09/02/2018) Follow-up report No. 1 (12/03/2018) Follow-up report No. 2 (16/03/2018)

New outbreaks (1)

Outbreak 1 Mountshannon, Co. Clare, CLARE Date of start of the outbreak 06/03/2018 Outbreak status Resolved (06/03/2018) Epidemiological unit Not applicable Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered White-tailed Eagle:Haliaeetus albicilla(Accipitridae) 1 1 0 0 Affected population On 6th March 2018, a white tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) was found dead on Cribby Island which is located in Lough Derg near Mountshannon, County Clare in an area known to be frequented by migratory wildbirds.

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered White-tailed Eagle:Haliaeetus albicilla(Accipitridae) 1 1 0 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* White-tailed Eagle:Haliaeetus albicilla(Accipitridae) ** ** 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 Unknown or inconclusive Epidemiological comments On 12th March 2018 the Irish Central Veterinary Research Laboratory confirmed the presence of avian influenza subtype H5N6 in samples taken from the white tailed eagle. On 15th March 2018 sequencing results confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N6.

Control measures Measures applied 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 Irish Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (National laboratory) White-tailed Eagle real-time PCR 12/03/2018 Positive Bioscience Waterford (Private Laboratory) White-tailed Eagle virus sequencing 15/03/2018 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=26192