Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

Bird flu is back
By Miriam Phillips

Comment

<TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 5px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 5px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 5px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 5px solid" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=10 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>EASTER SETBACK: John Houston at Abbotsbury Swannery</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
ABBOTSBURY Swannery's hopes of reopening for Easter have been dashed after another bird tested positive for bird flu.
On the final day of the site's bird flu restrictions, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that a Canada goose collected on February 25 in the wild bird monitoring area tested positive for the lethal H5N1 virus.
The remains of the bird, the 11th to test positive, were found less than a kilometre from where the previous positive cases were collected at the swannery.
The goose was found in the eleventh hour for Abbotsbury Swannery, which was into the last day of its 28-day restriction period following the last sample that was found positive on January 29.
A new control zone will be imposed around the immediate area for 31 days, which means the swannery may not be able to reopen until March 31.
Swannery boss John Houston had been hoping to reopen on March 15 in time for Easter, one of the attraction's busiest times.

The last mute swan to be found with bird flu was confirmed on February 4.
A spokesman for Defra said the latest case was not 'unexpected' but the finding means the new control area will be in place until March 29. He added: "This was the last bird to be tested and in a way it means we are back to the beginning.
"Defra will be holding a meeting later next week to review the monitoring area but at present the original control area will be back in place.
"Defra's enhanced surveillance of wild birds in the area is continuing, including active patrols to look for dead wild birds.
"We are currently considering whether any additional restrictions are necessary in the area."
A Wild Bird Monitoring Area is currently in place around the affected area and poultry keepers in the area are reminded of the need to comply with existing restrictions, including the requirement to house or otherwise keep separate their birds from wild birds.
Defra is asking people to remain vigilant for signs of disease, reporting any suspicions immediately.
The control area means that from Portland Beach Road to Abbotsbury, shooting is banned.
The wild bird control area includes the whole of Weymouth and Portland and stretches from Osmington to West Bexington.
The wild bird monitoring area includes much of South Dorset in a rough arc from Durdle Door in the East, up to Dorchester and West to Burton Bradstock.
Richard Herringshaw, Dorset County Council's principal trading standards officer, said poultry keepers must stick to strict reinforced biosecurity measures.
He added: "I understand the new discovery is a difficult time for poultry keepers in the Abbotsbury and Weymouth areas.
"We are all working together to make sure the situation is contained as far as possible.
"Disinfectant should be available at entrances and exits to premises where birds are kept and people must not leave premises with clothing visibly soiled with mud, animal or bird faeces.
"Vehicles entering or leaving premises must not be visibly soiled with mud, animal or bird faeces and must have wheels and wheel arches disinfected."
8:41am today

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.2086031.0.bird_flu_is_back.php

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

AVIAN INFLUENZA (39): UK (ENGLAND), GOOSE
*****************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Fri 29 Feb 2008
Source: BBC News [edited]
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7271351.stm>


Bird flu discovered in dead goose
---------------------------------
A dead goose has tested positive for the highly virulent H5N1 strain
of bird flu, government scientists have said.

The remains of the bird were discovered around 1km (0.6m) from
Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset, where a number of swans have been
found with the disease. The Department for the Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs said the Canada goose [Picture at
<http://identify.whatbird.com/img/4/354/image.aspx>] was the 11th
wild bird in the area to test positive for H5N1. Restrictions on the
movement of poultry have now been introduced in the area. Defra said
the decision was based on veterinary advice. Poultry keepers will not
be able to move birds from their premises except under licence.

A spokeswoman said that the latest case of bird flu was "not
unexpected." She said H5N1 was active at a very low level among wild
birds in the area, and there was no evidence of the virus in domestic
poultry locally. Regular surveillance was continuing, she added, with
patrols looking for dead birds.

A Wild Bird Monitoring Area is in place around the affected area,
with keepers required to keep domestic poultry away from wild birds.
Owners have been urged to stay vigilant and report any signs of the
disease. Since 10 Jan 2008, H5N1 has been identified in 10 mute swans
in the area -- with the last case confirmed on 4 Feb 2008.

Abbotsbury Swannery, near Chesil Beach, is part of an area of wetland
recognised to be of international importance.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[An epidemiology report "HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1 IN
WILD SWANS IN DORSET," prepared by the National Emergency
Epidemiology Group and published on 12 Feb 2008, included in its
Executive Summary -- among others -- the following statements:

- "Analysis of the virus indicates that it is related to
contemporary viruses from continental Europe and is most closely
related to a cluster of isolates recovered in mid to late 2007 from
wild and domestic birds in the Czech Republic, Romania and Poland.

- The source of infection for swans has not been identified, however
the most plausible hypothesis is that it was introduced by one of the
migratory wild birds that make up part of the population on the Fleet
during the winter."

For the full report, see:
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/epireport-hpaiswan080212.pdf>.

DEFRA's declaration of a wild bird control area and a wild bird
monitoring area has been revised; the 29 Feb 2008 update, including a
map, is available at:
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/declaration080229.pdf>.
- Mod.AS]

[See also:
Avian influenza (37): China (Tibet), UK (England) 20080220.0694
Avian influenza (35): UK (England), Indonesia, India, Bangladesh
20080215.0600
Avian influenza (26): Pakistan (Sindh), UK (England), swan 20080202.0420
Avian influenza (16): Ukraine (Crimea), UK (England), swan 20080118.0230
Avian influenza (13): UK (England), swan, Bangladesh (Barisal) 20080116.0204
Avian influenza (12): UK (England), swan, OIE 20080116.0196
Avian influenza (10): UK (England), swan, Iran, susp., Viet Nam 20080113.0160
1Avian influenza (09): UK (England), swan 20080110.0137]
....................arn/ejp/jw

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

AVIAN INFLUENZA (39): UK (ENGLAND), GOOSE
*****************************************
[An epidemiology report "HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1 IN
WILD SWANS IN DORSET," prepared by the National Emergency
Epidemiology Group and published on 12 Feb 2008, included in its
Executive Summary -- among others -- the following statements:

- "Analysis of the virus indicates that it is related to
contemporary viruses from continental Europe and is most closely
related to a cluster of isolates recovered in mid to late 2007 from
wild and domestic birds in the Czech Republic, Romania and Poland.

- The source of infection for swans has not been identified, however
the most plausible hypothesis is that it was introduced by one of the
migratory wild birds that make up part of the population on the Fleet
during the winter."

For the full report, see:
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/epireport-hpaiswan080212.pdf>.

DEFRA's declaration of a wild bird control area and a wild bird
monitoring area has been revised; the 29 Feb 2008 update, including a
map, is available at:
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/declaration080229.pdf>.
- Mod.AS]

[See also:
Avian influenza (37): China (Tibet), UK (England) 20080220.0694
Avian influenza (35): UK (England), Indonesia, India, Bangladesh
20080215.0600
Avian influenza (26): Pakistan (Sindh), UK (England), swan 20080202.0420
Avian influenza (16): Ukraine (Crimea), UK (England), swan 20080118.0230
Avian influenza (13): UK (England), swan, Bangladesh (Barisal) 20080116.0204
Avian influenza (12): UK (England), swan, OIE 20080116.0196
Avian influenza (10): UK (England), swan, Iran, susp., Viet Nam 20080113.0160
1Avian influenza (09): UK (England), swan 20080110.0137]
....................arn/ejp/jw

Th above comments cite the claim in the DEFRA report that the H5N1 in Dorset is due to "one of the migratory wild birds that make up part of the population on the Fleet during the winter" when the description of the sequence data from the first four isolates clearly indicate that the outbreak, which has now been ongoing for two months, is due to MULTIPLE independent introductions of clade 2.2.3.

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>DEAD GOOSE HAD BIRD FLU </TD></TR><TR><TD>Date : 01.03.08 </TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>A canada goose has tested positive for the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs revealed last night.

The bird was found dead about half a mile from the Abbotsbury Swannery in the Chesil Beach area of Dorset, where a number of swans have been found with the disease.

It is the 11th wild bird to test positive for H5N1 in the area, said Defra.

The previous ten cases were all identified in mute swans over the past couple of months, with the last confirmed on February 4, said a spokesman.

The finding of more cases in wild birds was "not unexpected" and surveillance - including patrols to look for dead birds - was continuing.

The spokesman said that H5N1 was circulating in the local wild bird population at a very low level.

There was no evidence of the virus in domestic poultry flocks in the area.

However, the department is reminding poultry keepers of the continuing restrictions inside the Wild Bird Monitoring Area, including requirements to house poultry or keep them separate from wild birds.

Keepers are also being urged to remain vigilant for any signs of the highly pathogenic disease and to report anything suspicious to animal health officials immediately. </TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TH>

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=143663&command=displayContent&sourceNode=143637&contentPK=20029955&folderPk=83098&pNodeId=143738

</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/02...se_Dorset.html

Commentary

H5N1 Confirmed in Canada Goose in Dorset England

Recombinomics Commentary 15:25
February 29, 2008

Defra has today confirmed that a Canada goose collected on 25 February in the Wild Bird Monitoring Area in Dorset as part of wild bird surveillance has tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza. The bird was found less than a kilometre from where the previous positive cases in swans were collected.

This is the 11th wild bird with highly pathogenic H5N1 in the area. The previous ten cases were in wild mute swans, with the last case being confirmed on 4 February.

The above comments on an H5N1 confirmed Canada goose in Dorset are not a surprise. However, the finding of H5N1 over a two month period in two wild bird species further supports H5N1 circulation in wild birds in the region (see satellite map).

Moreover, the DEFRA description of the sequence relationships between the first four isolates leaves little doubt that the infections are not from a common source, as indicated or implied in the DEFRA report and press releases.

Recent sequences from other outbreaks in Europe involve exact matches between wild birds and infected poultry, demonstrating the level of fidelity in isolates collected in the same region over a short time period. Such levels have not been reported for the isolates in Dorset.

The latest positive demonstrates that enhanced surveillance detects H5N1 in wild bird populations in England. The described sequences are clade 2.2.3, which is the only subclade reported in western Europe since the summer of 2007. Sequences have been released for multiple independent infections in Germany in the summer of 2007, as well as more recent isolates from Krasnodar and Romania. Sequences from the same sub-clade have been published from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

In contrast, DEFRA has withheld the sequences from H5N1 in Suffolk in the fall of 2007, as well as the 11 confirmed cases in or near the swannery in DEFRA.

Release of the H5N1 sequences from isolates in England would be useful.



.

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

<CENTER>Swannery can open for Easter, says Defra

</CENTER>BIRD flu may be back - but fears of a disastrous Easter at Abbotsbury Swannery have been quashed.
Swannery boss John Houston has been told he could re-open the popular tourist attraction at any time despite the return of strict control zone measures in Dorset.
Government experts have ruled that the stringent movement restrictions are solely in place to protect poultry from the virus.
Mr Houston said this means he could open the swannery to visitors tomorrow if he chose.
In the next few days, owners the Ilchester Estate will make a decision on whether to open the attraction for business as usual on March 15.
Swannery boss John Houston said: "It's not quite the terrible news we thought.
"We've been told the control zone is in place to protect poultry and not people and they've given us the green light.
"If we do open it's only because Defra and the Health Protection Agency have told us it's safe to do so.
"They are now advising us there's no risk for people going to the swannery."
Knowledge gained by Defra scientists since bird flu broke out in the county is behind that decision, Mr Houston said.
He added: "On the face of it we may be back to square one, but things have changed a lot since January 7 and Defra has learnt a lot about this.
"They are saying this is a bird disease and poses no concern for the public."
Footpaths around the Fleet will remain open to walkers as part of the 3km control zone but poultry or captive bird movements are still banned without a licence.
The infected Canada goose found on February 25 was discovered in a field near to one of the swannery's entrances.
The dead bird, which tested positive for the lethal strain of H5N1 on Friday, was the 11th bird to be found with the virus on the day the existing control zone was due to be lifted.
Mr Houston said: "This Canada goose jumped in and ruined the party.
"But the advice Defra has given us is an interesting development because it's made us feel much more relaxed and shows the confidence they have in the birds building up immunity to the disease.
"We are not going to get too excited or over-confident, as the situation can change - but there is light at the end of the tunnel."
9:51am today


By Joanna Davis

http://www.thisisdorset.net/misc/print.php?artid=2087440

[mixin]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

the confidence they have in the birds building up immunity to the disease.

So, why did you bold this?

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

So, why did you bold this?

Immunity is due to widespread H5N1 in wild birds.

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

Bird flu Wild Bird Control Area

News | 3 March, 2008
By Jack Davies
THE Wild Bird Control Area in the south west of England has been reinstated following a new case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu in another wild bird on the Dorset coastline.

The disease was confirmed on Friday (February 29) in a Canada goose at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset.
The case was the eleventh recorded since the outbreak began in January and was the first time it had been discovered outside of the mute swan population.
As a result, Defra has decided to reinstate the Wild Bird Control Area which was rescinded on February 19. The Control Area covers a 3km radius from the wild bird location, extending to take account of the location of local bird reserves and the presence of wild bird populations along the Dorset coastline


Inside the Control Area, Defra will be carrying out a veterinary inspection of all commercial poultry premises.
Poultry keepers within the zone will not be able move poultry, captive birds or hatching eggs without a license.
Hunting of wild birds is also banned as well as bird gatherings and the release of game birds.
The Control Area, which will stay in place for at least 21 days, is surrounded by a wider 10km Monitoring Area. Defra has said that further cases of the disease would not be unexpected and is continuing its monitoring and surveillance programme in the area.

http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=16791&c=1

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

DEFRA relaxes bird flu controls in Dorset
05/03/2008 14:00:00
FWi
<!--link colour -->DEFRA has lifted the wild bird control area put in place in Dorset in February after a Canada goose was found with H5N1 avian influenza.
The wild bird monitoring area (WBMA) will also reduce in size today (5 March), based on expert advice on the area most at risk from disease. The monitoring area must remain in place for at least 30 days following the collection of the last positive sample.
Surveillance for disease in the WBMA is ongoing, and new restrictions may need to be reintroduced should the risk of disease increase.
Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was first confirmed in wild birds in the Dorset area on 10 January, and to date 11 cases have been identified in wild birds.

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/03/05/109700/defra-relaxes-bird-flu-controls-in-dorset.html

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

DEFRA relaxes bird flu controls in Dorset
05/03/2008 14:00:00
FWi
<!--link colour -->
The wild bird monitoring area (WBMA) will also reduce in size today (5 March), based on expert advice on the area most at risk from disease. The monitoring area must remain in place for at least 30 days following the collection of the last positive sample.

Elimination of confirmed H5N1 by limiting testing.

SOP

[Giuseppe]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

FROM DEFRA:
-
INFORMATION BULLETIN - Ref: 71/08
Date: 5 March 2008Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960

Avian influenza update: wild bird control area lifted
Defra has today confirmed that the Wild Bird Control Area put in place in Dorset on 29 February for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been lifted.

This follows confirmation of H5N1 in a Canada goose in the existing Wild Bird Monitoring Area on 29 February. The lifting of the Control Area today is based on an assessment of risk and of the disease situation.

The Wild Bird Monitoring Area will also reduce in size today, based on expert advice on the area most at risk from disease. The Monitoring Area must remain in place for at least 30 days following the collection of the last positive sample.

Surveillance for disease in the Wild Bird Monitoring Area is ongoing, and new restrictions may need to be reintroduced should the risk of disease increase. The UK is at a constant but low level of risk of the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza, with a slight increase in risk during winter and spring migration.

Bird keepers across the country are reminded to practice good biosecurity and remain vigilant for any signs of disease.

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was first confirmed in wild birds in the Dorset area on 10 January and to date 11 cases have been identified in wild birds.

Further information
Information is available from the Defra Helpline (08459 33 55 77) - see www.defra.gov.uk for current opening hours. Bird keepers can also call the Animal Health recorded information line for the latest updates on 0844 884 4600.

The details on the measures that apply in the current zones can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/avianflu/

-

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080305a.htm

------

[HenryN]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008


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ILCHESTER Four cygnets hatched from a nest of seven eggs, above, are the earliest arrivals at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset since records were first kept more than 600 years ago.
Traditionally, the Benedictine monks who founded the swannery regard the first hatching as a sign that summer has arrived. This does not usually happen until mid-May, according to detailed records kept by the monks since 1393. The year?s first hatching has come as a boost to the swannery soon after it was given the all-clear after an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu. Ten birds died of the flu, which can be fatal to humans. Staff were given antiflu jabs and Tamiflu tablets as a precaution. Defra set up a control and monitoring zone around the attraction from January until the all-clear was given in March.
John Houston, the swannery?s manager, said of the hatching: ?This is wonderful news and has lifted all the doom and gloom that has been about because of bird flu. We have been checking the records and we can?t find a cygnet that has hatched earlier. We can only put it down to the mild winter.? He said it was too early to tell what gender the cygnets were.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3835203.ece

[Shiloh]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...et/7422971.stm

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 09:38 UK

Record year for Bird Flu swannery

A record number of cygnets have been born at a Dorset swannery that was hit with Bird Flu earlier this year.

Ten wild mute swans and a Canada goose tested positive for the virulent H5N1 strain of the disease at Abbotsbury Swannery during the January outbreak.

Less than six months later it is having one of its busiest hatching seasons ever, after being reopened in March.

The swannery, which is home to a herd of 800 wild swans, is expecting more than 600 cygnets this season.

The outbreak was probably introduced by an infected migratory bird, Defra said.

An epidemiology report found the strain of the virus was similar to that found in Europe in the latter part of 2007.

Swan herder David Wheeler said: "It was a grim time, we were very worried.

"We half expected to lose a lot of swans but it just seemed to be one or two birds over the whole of the lagoon."

Scientists believe the Abbotsbury swans may have developed some kind of immunity to the disease, which prevented it from spreading much further.
They claim it also explains why the new cygnets have been protected.

John Houston, manager of the swannery, said the birth of the cygnets showed nature reserves can "bounce back" from Bird Flu.

"Back in the January days it was all gloom and doom," he said.

"It really was hard to envisage that here we are today in May with the biggest hatching of cygnets at Abbotsbury that we've ever had.

"We would never have thought that was possible in January.

"We've learnt that it isn't the end of the world, that nature reserves can bounce back from this, as we see today."

[Commonground]

Re: Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

Of AI virus can be circulated by the British poultry
Written by Teresa Neves
Wednesday, 25 June 2008


The poultry farmers throughout the United Kingdom should remain alert and not neglecting if, perhaps, some health problem seen not respond to conventional treatments. In this case, the possibility of occurrence of low pathogenic Avian influenza should not be discarded.

The warning, launched by British Farmers Guardian, part of epidemiologists from DEFRA (acronym in English, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom), for whom a strain of low pathogenicity, not yet identified, the virus of Avian influenza can be in circulation in the local poultry.

Indications to this effect are present in a report prepared by the National Emergency Epidemiology Group (NEEG, the body of DEFRA). It notes that the clinical evidence obtained from all the records raised suggest that the outbreak of highly pathogenic (caused by a strain of the H7N7 type virus of Avian Influenza) occurred in a commercial laying farm (25 one thousand birds) located in Banbury, north of Oxfordshire, "comes from a strain of low pathogenicity to own pre-existing outbreak."

In the case in staff, were observed increase in mortality (2.5% in one of four warehouses that make up the barn) and fall in productivity of eggs two weeks before the birds begin to produce high mortality (first days of June this), when then was diagnosed the presence of the H7N7 strain of the virus of AI. That has raised the suspicion of possible presence of low pathogenic strains of the disease throughout the UK.

Last week the report indicates that it is observed that clinical signs associated with the infection of low pathogenicity are quite variable, showing since "no" to a high mortality: "The low pathogenic Avian influenza can be confused with (or their identification may be complicated by the presence of) various diseases with respiratory or enteric signs. In any avian disease that resists the preventive and therapeutic treatments should be suspected the presence of diseases aviarias of mandatory reporting, included here, now, the low pathogenic Avian Influenza. "

The study also indicates released two hypothetical sources of infection. In one, the virus can be transmitted by contact between wild birds and poultry trade created outdoors (the famous creations "free-range" recommended, especially by NGOs British animal welfare). The evaluation is another option for the existence of an unidentified source of infection. Here the spread may be linked to several factors, including the collection of eggs from vehicles, distribution of rations, or even to collect manure, and the transit of people.

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Favicultura.com.pt%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D534%26Itemid%3D0&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=pt&sl=es&tl=en&tl=en