Georgia Department of Agriculture officials investigate possible bird flu in Menlo (media) - Low pathogenic avian influenza H7N9 confirmed

[Pathfinder]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattooga_County,_Georgia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible Bird Flu Case Found In Menlo
News - Local News
Friday, 24 March 2017 22:43

The Summerville News
on Friday

Department of Agriculture specialists are investigating a possible case of avian influenza at a commercial poultry business in the Menlo area. The "bird flu" has not been confirmed....

http://www.thesummervillenews.com/in...-menlo&catid=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Georgia Agriculture Officials Investigate Possible Bird Flu in Menlo

Written by Jimmy Holbrook
Saturday, 25 March 2017

The Summerville News reported on Friday that Georgia Department of Agriculture officials are investigating a possible case of avian influenza, commonly known as "bird flu" at a commercial chicken operation in Menlo. The case has not been confirmed.

Late Thursday evening, the Georgia Department of Agriculture issued a statement from State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb, Jr. saying that no confirmed cases of avian influenza has been found in Georgia, however because of confirmed cases in Alabama and Tennessee the "Stop Movement" order on all poultry remains in place.
...
http://chattooga1180.com/index.php?o...=view&id=59081

[Pathfinder]

News > Press Releases > 2017 Press Releases > Confirmed H7, Presumptive Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Commercial Flock in Georgia
Confirmed H7, Presumptive Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Commercial Flock in Georgia

Georgia Department of Agriculture Gary W. Black, Commissioner 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW Atlanta, GA 30334 www.agr.georgia.gov

Find us on Facebook • Follow on Twitter: @GDAFoodSafety •@GeorgiaGrown

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 27, 2017
Office of Communications
404-656-3689

Confirmed H7, Presumptive Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Commercial Flock in Georgia

A flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation located in Chattooga County has tested positive for H7, presumptive low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). This is the first confirmation of avian influenza in domestic poultry in Georgia. Avian influenza does not pose a risk to the food supply, and no affected animals entered the food chain. The risk of human infection with avian influenza during poultry outbreaks is very low.

The virus was identified during routine pre-sale screening for the commercial facility and was confirmed as H7 avian influenza by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. As a precaution the affected flock has been depopulated. Officials are testing and monitoring other flocks within the surveillance area and no other flocks have tested positive or experienced any clinical signs.

The announcement follows similar confirmations from Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee in recent weeks. The Georgia case is considered a presumptive low pathogenic avian influenza because the flock did not show any signs of illness. While LPAI is different from HPAI, control measures are under way as a precautionary measure. Wild birds are the source of the virus. Avian influenza virus strains often occur naturally in wild birds, and can infect wild migratory birds without causing illness.

“Poultry is the top sector of our number one industry, agriculture, and we are committed to protecting the livelihoods of the many farm families that are dependent on it,” said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black. “In order to successfully do that, it is imperative that we continue our efforts of extensive biosecurity.”

The official order prohibiting poultry exhibitions and the assembling of poultry to be sold issued by the state veterinarian’s office on March 16, 2017, remains in effect. The order prohibits all poultry exhibitions, sales at regional and county fairs, festivals, swap meets, live bird markets, flea markets, and auctions. The order also prohibits the concentration, collection or assembly of poultry of all types, including wild waterfowl from one or more premises for purposes of sale. Shipments of eggs or baby chicks from National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), Avian Influenza Clean, approved facilities are not affected by this order.

Owners of poultry flocks are encouraged to closely observe their birds and report a sudden increase in the number of sick birds or bird deaths to the state veterinarian’s office at (855) 491-1432. For more updates and information regarding biosecurity tips visit www.ga-ai.org or www.allinallgone.com.

###

About the GDA The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is the voice of the state’s agriculture community. The department's mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce. For more information, visit www.agr.georgia.gov.
Julie McPeake


http://agr.georgia.gov/confirmed-h7-...n-georgia.aspx

[Pathfinder]

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), United States of America

Information received on 03/04/2017 from Dr John Clifford, Official Delegate, Chief Trade Advisor, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America

Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 2 Date of start of the event 06/03/2017 Date of confirmation of the event 08/03/2017 Report date 03/04/2017 Date submitted to OIE 03/04/2017 Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence 2017 Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H7N9 Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to a defined zone within the country Related reports Immediate notification (10/03/2017) Follow-up report No. 1 (24/03/2017) Follow-up report No. 2 (03/04/2017)

New outbreaks (2)

Outbreak 1 (00MVNQ1) Christian County, Christian, KENTUCKY Date of start of the outbreak 15/03/2017 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Farm Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 22000 0 22000 0 Affected population Chicken broiler breeder flock

Outbreak 2 (008MA6L) Chattooga County, Chattooga, GEORGIA Date of start of the outbreak 23/03/2017 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Farm Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 18000 0 18000 0 Affected population Chicken broiler breeder flock

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 2 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 40000 ** 0 40000 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds ** 0.00% ** 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 As part of routine testing and surveillance for H5/H7 Avian Influenza, low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H7N9 of North American wild bird lineage was detected in healthy broiler breeder chickens. Although this is a low pathogenicity H7 strain, as a precautionary preventive measure, flocks are being depopulated. The USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and State Departments of Agriculture are conducting comprehensive epidemiological investigations and have implemented enhanced surveillance and testing related to the event.

Control measures Measures applied Movement control inside the country Disinfection / Disinfestation Quarantine Surveillance outside containment and/or protection zone Stamping out Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone 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 National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) (National laboratory) Birds real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 17/03/2017 Positive National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) (National laboratory) Birds real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 27/03/2017 Positive

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

...
http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wa...reportid=23459