H5 and N1 once again detected in Maryland

[Mamabird]

Apparently Maryland mallards are carrying low path H5/N1 viruses as once again the virus has been detected in the state, this time in live Kent County birds. Interestingly the viral samples were collected back in June and are just now being investigated and reported. Makes one wonder what else has not yet been reported to the public and duck hunters by the USDA.

http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/ai/LPAITable.pdf

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: H5 and N1 once again detected in Maryland

.......viral samples were collected back in June ........ not yet been reported to the public and duck hunters by the USDA.

http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/ai/LPAITable.pdf

I hope someone explains to the duck hunters that it may have mutated to HPAI if not by now - it could soon.

In the table notes they say...."If the genetic sequence matches that of a known highly pathogenic AI virus, the sample is considered highly pathogenic."

Shouldn't they consider any virus with multiple amino acids at the cleavage site to be highly pathogenic?

Does their further determination of pathogenicity by observing the % of dead chickens always correlate with multiple amino acids?
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[HenryN]

Re: H5 and N1 once again detected in Maryland

I hope someone explains to the duck hunters that it may have mutated to HPAI if not by now - it could soon.

In the table notes they say...."If the genetic sequence matches that of a known highly pathogenic AI virus, the sample is considered highly pathogenic."

Shouldn't they consider any virus with multiple amino acids at the cleavage site to be highly pathogenic?

Does their further determination of pathogenicity by observing the % of dead chickens always correlate with multiple amino acids?
.

Yes, most countries will use the cleavage site as evidence of high path (however, the low path H5N1 do not have multi-basic cleavage sites and the assays are not sensitive enough to detect high path in live birds, which makes of the bulk of the testing in North America).

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: H5 and N1 once again detected in Maryland

.......assays are not sensitive enough to detect high path in live birds, which makes of the bulk of the testing in North America).

That's not comforting news.

I'm concerned that if the testing procedure if an "if, then" situation where only IF it matches a known HPAI, THEN they do the %-of-dead chicken testing, they may miss any other AI that could have pandemic potential - like H9Nx, or even H6Nx (mentioned since it's a parent to H5N1).

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[HenryN]

Re: H5 and N1 once again detected in Maryland

That's not comforting news.

I'm concerned that if the testing procedure if an "if, then" situation where only IF it matches a known HPAI, THEN they do the %-of-dead chicken testing, they may miss any other AI that could have pandemic potential - like H9Nx, or even H6Nx (mentioned since it's a parent to H5N1).

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It is just a sensitivity issue. All dead patients, except one are from H5N1 from Asia (and everything west of China is Qinghai).

The concern is Qinghai, but the testing of live birds for Qinghai is well into the abysmal range.

The story is quite simple. The surveillance is simply flying blind, because the test being used produces false negatives and has little likelihood of detecting Qinghai H5N1 in live birds. Even the PCR on the DEAD goslings on Prince Edward Island was borderline positive.

The negatives are VERY easy to interpret.