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A rare bird flu virus from a strain that has not been detected in Iceland before was found in a sea urchin and an eider
DV Editorial Board
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 3:47 p.mA rare bird flu virus from a strain that has not been detected in Iceland before was found in a sea urchin and an eider
Matvælastofnun reported on its website earlier today that in samples taken from a sea urchin that was found dead on a cutter off Barðaströnd in mid-September, dangerous bird flu viruses of a strain that has not been detected in Iceland before and is not common, HPAI H5N5, were found. . Since then, the institute has received information from the University of Iceland's Experimental Station at Keldum, that an eagle that was found dead in Ólafsfjörður a short time ago was infected with the same strain of bird flu virus.
The Norwegian Food Agency says these analyzes highlight the importance of ensuring good quarantine when dealing with poultry and other birds in captivity. The organization also reminds that reports from the public about the discovery of sick and dead wild birds are a key element in monitoring the presence and spread of bird flu.
Few reports of sick or dead wild birds have been received by Matvælastofnun since this spring, after the mass death of ptarmigan, puffins and other blackbirds subsided. It was previously reported that bird flu was not detected in them. As of July, only five samples have been taken from wild birds. Three of them were found to be negative for avian flu, while two were positive, the previously mentioned samples from sea urchins and eiders.
The viruses detected in those samples are from the HPAI H5N5 strain, which is not common, and the Swedish Food Agency says this is the first diagnosis of this strain in Iceland. Questions arise about where the virus came from. The strain that has been dominant in Europe and elsewhere since October 2021 is HPAI H5N1. During the same period, HPAI H5N5 was detected in only four samples in Europe, all from wild birds in Norway and Sweden, and in a few samples from wild birds, red foxes and skunks in eastern Canada. With complete sequencing of the viruses from the sea eagle and the osprey, it will hopefully be possible to determine whether this strain arrived from Europe or now in late summer with the arrival of migratory birds from breeding grounds in the western Atlantic.
The Swedish Food Agency emphasizes that, based on the data available at this point in time, it can be assumed that the spread of the deadly bird flu virus is low in Iceland and that the risk of infection for poultry and other birds in captivity is therefore low. However, it is important that all bird owners know how to prevent infection. The Swedish Food Agency asks the public to continue to report the discovery of sick and dead wild birds . The notifications are a very important part of monitoring the presence and spread of infection.
https://www.dv.is/frettir/2023/10/3...st-islandi-adur-fannst-haferni-og-aedarfugli/
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Avian flu in sea urchins and eiders
News - 03.10.2023
In samples taken from a sea urchin that was found dead on a cutter outside Barðaströnd in mid-September, severe bird flu viruses of a strain that has not been detected in Iceland before and is not common, HPAI H5N5, were found. The samples were studied at the University of Iceland's Experimental Station in Keldum. Today, the Food Agency received information from Keld that an eider that was found dead in Ólafsfjörður recently was infected with the same strain of bird flu virus. These analyzes highlight the importance of ensuring good quarantine when dealing with poultry and other captive birds. The Norwegian Food Agency reminds that reports from the public about the discovery of sick and dead wild birds are a key element in monitoring the presence and spread of bird flu.
Few reports of sick or dead wild birds have been received by Matvælastofnun since spring, after the mass death of ptarmigan, puffins and other blackbirds subsided. It has been previously reported that bird flu was not detected in them . As of July, only five samples have been taken from wild birds. Three of them tested negative for bird flu, while two tested positive. The birds that tested positive were, on the one hand, a young sea eagle that died on September 17th on a cut in Breiðafjörður, and on the other hand, an eagle that was found dead on Ólafsfjörður on September 21st.
The viruses detected are from the HPAI H5N5 strain, which is not common, and these are the first diagnoses of this strain in Iceland. A question arises as to where the virus came from. The strain that has been dominant in Europe and elsewhere since October 2021 is HPAI H5N1. During the same period, HPAI H5N5 has been detected in only four samples in Europe, all from wild birds in Norway and Sweden, and in a few samples from wild birds, red foxes and skunks in eastern Canada. With the complete sequencing of the viruses from the osprey and the eider it will hopefully be possible to determine whether this strain arrived from Europe or now in late summer with the arrival of migratory birds from nesting sites in the western Atlantic.
Based on the data available at this point in time, it can be assumed that the spread of avian influenza viruses is low in this country and the risk of infection for poultry and other birds in captivity is therefore low. Still, it is important that all bird owners take preventive measures to protect their birds as much as possible against infection from wild birds, and the Swedish Food Agency asks the public to continue to report the discovery of sick and dead wild birds . The notifications are a very important part of monitoring the presence and spread of infection.
https://www.mast.is/is/um-mast/frettir/frettir/fuglaflensa-i-haferni-og-aedarfugli
