AFD - USA - LPAI BF (All strains)

[sharon sanders]

Media Report: `Bird Flu' In Rhode Island Swans



# 2245

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

A little more information would be helpful here.


Like, exactly what strain of bird flu are they talking about in Rhode Island?


Since this isn't the H5N1 virus, we can assume that this is mainly a concern to poultry owners. There are, however, other strains of bird flu (H7s and H9s, mostly) that can infect humans - usually with mild results.


This early report from WPRI Eyewitness news.

Bird flu detected in Rhode Island
Updated: Aug 21, 2008 12:27 PM



PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A strain of bird flu has been detected in four swans found in the Seekonk River.

The cases were discovered as part of routine surveillance by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

DEM says the strain of avian flu detected in Rhode Island is not the same strain that has infected people in Asia and Europe since 2003 -- so it does not pose a significant health risk to humans.

However, the agency says the virus can be transmitted to wild birds and domestic poultry flocks. It is urging all poultry owners to employ standard biosecurity and sanitation practices. In particular, they should prevent flocks from having any contact with wild birds.

All poultry owners should have their flocks tested. To schedule an appointment call the DEM's Division of Agriculture/Animal Health Unit at 401-222-2781. There is no charge for the testing.

Posted by FLA_MEDIC at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/08/media-report-bird-flu-in-rhode-island.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-08-21T13:06:00-04:00">1:06 PM</abbr>

[sharon sanders]

Re: AFD - USA - LPAI BF (All strains)

Rhode Island Bird Flu Identified as H7N3




# 2246


The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has released a statement about the 4 swans found with avian influenza.


A Hat tip to Ironorehopper on Flutrackers for finding this link this quickly.

News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
<hr size="4"> For Release:
August 21, 2008
Contact:
Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
AVIAN INFLUENZA DETECTED IN SMALL NUMBER OF WILD MUTE SWANS IN RHODE ISLAND

Finding Poses No Significant Threat to Human Health, but Poultry Owners are Advised to Take Preventative Steps to Protect their Flocks

PROVIDENCE - A strain of avian influenza (bird flu) has been detected in a small number of mute swans collected from the Seekonk River during routine surveillance performed by the Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish & Wildlife. The swans were caught near the Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, and subsequently tested by the USDA.


Four of the eleven birds were found to be infected with the H7N3 strain of the avian influenza virus. This is NOT the same strain that has infected people in Asia and Europe since 2003, and there is no known significant health risk to people as a result of exposure to this virus, nor any associated food safety concerns. Chicken and other poultry products are safe to eat.


This virus, while not a significant health risk to people, can be transmitted to other birds, and thereby represents a significant risk to other wild birds and domestic poultry flocks.

In response, DEM's Division of Agriculture will be performing increased surveillance of domestic poultry flocks within a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) radius of the location where the infected swans were found. The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture will do the same thing on their side of the border. DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife will also increase surveillance of wild waterfowl (swans, ducks, geese, etc.).


As a precaution, to protect their flocks, all poultry owners should employ standard biosecurity and sanitation practices. In particular, poultry owners should prevent their flocks from having any contact with wild birds.
(Continue)

H7N3, according to this study published in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, was isolated as the cause of mild influenza-like symptoms and conjunctivitis in two men from British Columbia in 2004, both poultry workers exposed during an outbreak of the disease.

Posted by FLA_MEDIC at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/08/rhode-island-bird-flu-identified-as.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-08-21T13:52:00-04:00">1:52 PM</abbr>

[sharon sanders]

Re: AFD - USA - LPAI BF (All strains)

Idaho Bird Farm Quarantined With Avian Flu Strain





# 2278


No, it's not H5N1.


But it does appear to be an H5 virus, at least according to the initial filing with the OIE.

Lab testing has identified the virus as the H5N8 strain which is low pathogenic, and not believed to pose a danger to humans.


First the story as it appeared in the AP reporting, then then some snippets from the OIE filing (hat tip Niman at Flutrackers).

Sep 4, 11:29 AM EDT
Idaho bird farm quarantined after bird virus found


BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- A southwestern Idaho bird farm has been quarantined after a bird there was found to have a low-pathogenic bird flu, but Idaho Department of Agriculture officials say it is not the same bird flu virus that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa.

According to a statement from the Agriculture Department, the type of virus found in the Idaho game bird is commonly found in wild birds and normally causes only minor illness in the animals. The statement said the virus poses little or no risk to human health and it's not believed that any people have gotten sick in connection with the ill bird.

The Agriculture Department quarantined the farm and will test the flock, investigate the source of the illness and notify neighboring gamebird and poultry farms.

Follow the link to read the entire filing, I've just copied some of the more pertinent data over. According to this report, there are roughly 30,000 birds at this farm.

A quarantine has been established, but no culling has been reported.

Immediate notification report

Report reference: , Ref OIE: 7319, Report Date: 03/09/2008 , Country: United States of America
Report Summary
Disease

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry) Animal type Terrestrial

Causal Agent

Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype(s) H5N8

Epidemiology
Epidemiological comments

? The game bird owner recently submitted three dead birds to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) for diagnostic work-up.

? The PSU laboratory identified Pasturella and Mycoplasma from culture but also ran the PCR test for avian influenza (AI), which is a routine testing procedure. The PCR test gave positive results for AI. Samples were also forwarded to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for confirmation.

Printed on: Thu Sep 4 18:40:58 Paris, Madrid (heure d'?t?) 2008 Page 1/3

? 29 August 2008: the NVSL confirmed an H5 positive, N1 negative PCR finding.

? The premises was quarantined by the Idaho Department of Agriculture on 29 August 2008.

? Enhanced surveillance and epidemiological investigation of the game bird premises began on 29 August 2008 by the Idaho Department of Agriculture officials, in conjunction with USDA APHIS Veterinary Services personnel.

? 2 September 2008: the NVSL confirmed and reported an H5N8 positive virus from samples taken from pheasants on the game bird premises.

? 3 September 2008: sequencing results from NVSL were compatible with low pathogenic avian influenza. The sequence is approximately 98.5% similar to /mallard/BC/373/2005 H5N2 and 98.3% similar to A/tundra swan/AK/44049-168/2006 H5N2.

Note by the OIE Animal Health Information Department: H5 and H7 avian influenza in its low pathogenic form in poultry is a notifiable disease as per Chapter 2.7.12. on avian influenza of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code.


Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection

? Contact with wild species

Control Measures
Applied

? Quarantine To be applied ? Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)

Posted by FLA_MEDIC at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/09/idaho-bird-farm-quarantined-with-avian.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-09-04T16:35:00-04:00">4:35 PM</abbr>