H5N2 In South Africa

[Mingus]

Archive Number 20060718.1970
Published Date 18-JUL-2006
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, ostriches - South Africa (H5N2)(03): OIE


AVIAN INFLUENZA, OSTRICHES - SOUTH AFRICA (H5N2)(03): OIE
************************************************
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: 17 Jul 2006
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: OIE Disease Information, 13 Jul 2006, Vol. 19 - No. 28 [edited]
<http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/A_CURRENT.HTM#Sec2>


Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In South Africa
-----------------------------------------------
Follow-up report No. 1

Information received on 6 Jul 2006 from Dr. Botlhe Modisane, Senior
Manager of Animal Health, National Department of Agriculture,
Pretoria:

End of previous report period: 3 Jul 2006 (see Disease Information,
19 [27], 511, dated 6 Jul 2006).

End of this report period: 6 Jul 2006.

Identification of agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N2.

Date of start of the event: 19 Jun 2006.

Details of new outbreak: A new seropositive farm has been identified
in the Western Cape on a farm in Sandfontein, Riversdale (lower
administrative division 34o 02' 06" S; 21o 38' 31.9" E; see map at
<http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Riversdale.shtml>)
on 19 Jun 2006.

Only one additional seropositive farm (with 2 seropositive
epidemiological groups) situated immediately adjacent to the index
farm was detected in the 10-km-radius zone. This finding indicates
that all these 3 epidemiological units (index farm and 2
epidemiological units on the adjacent farm) have been exposed to the
same risk factors, probably related to clustering of wild birds at
the nearby river confluence rather than being indicative of aerial
spread.

Other details/comments: Sequencing of the outbreak virus at the
Onderstepoort Reference Laboratory for avian influenza indicated the
presence of an H5N2 virus not identical to the H5N2 ostrich isolate
of 2004 from the Eastern Cape, eradicated successfully at that time.
Thus, the virus described in the OIE immediate notification report
dated 3 Jul 2006 is a new strain of H5N2 that is not identical to
that found in 2004. This implies that it is a completely new
infection and that no chronic carrier situation exists in ostriches
for this virus in South Africa.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Previous reports -- see Avian influenza, ostriches - South Africa,
H5N2 (02) 20060706.1856 -- hinted that the H5N2 in these cases may
have been the same strain as the 2004 outbreak. However, this
official report indicates that sequencing evidence suggests that this
year's [2006] strain is different. The question, as always answered
by research and with difficulty, is where did this strain come from
and was the epidemiology of the outbreak the same, both now and in
2004, and was it definitely related to wild birds? - Mod.PC]

[There are 3 Sandfonteins in South Africa but Riversdale, the lower
administrative division is in the Western Cape. The longitude and
latitude locate the outbreak in the Western Cape, so that is also the
map reference used. - Mod.PC/ARN]

 

[Mingus]

Re: H5N2 In South Africa

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/711201.htm

MOSSEL BAY
Bird Flu strikes W Cape ostriches

Wed, 19 Jul 2006

Hundreds of ostriches are being culled following an outbreak of avian influenza near Mossel Bay, the Western Cape's veterinary chief said on Wednesday.

"At least a couple of thousand will be culled," said Dr James Kitching.

He said the number was small, about the same number a single abattoir handled in a week.

Earlier in July, the Department of Agriculture placed an ostrich farm near Mossel Bay under quarantine when the flu was detected.

The department said the outbreak was not related to the deadly H5N1 strain, which has caused human fatalities in other parts of the world.

Local ostrich meat remained safe for human consumption.

Kitching said two properties were affected.

Ostriches were killed with the assistance of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with birds stunned with an electric shock before being shot.

"We hope to be done by the end of the week," Kitching said, adding that farmers were compensated for their loss.

A precautionary European Union ban, in place since early July, on the import of ostrich meat and meat-related products remains in force.

Sapa

 

[Mingus]

Re: H5N2 In South Africa

http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3344870

Western Cape bird flu virus contained
July 19, 2006

By From Sapa

Cape Town - Avian influenza detected in poultry northwest of Mossel Bay was under control, the department of agriculture said yesterday.

"The virus has been classified as type H5N2, which is not known to infect humans, unlike the H5N1 virus that has caused disease in humans in Asia, Europe and North Africa," said spokesperson Nare Mabuela.

"Surveillance procedures were carried out within a 20km radius around infected properties and laboratory tests have revealed that the outbreak has remained limited to a couple of adjacent properties."

The EU informed South Africa's national department of agriculture last week that importing ostrich meat had been banned after an outbreak of avian influenza in the Western Cape districts of Mossel Bay and Riversdale.

The department said on Monday that an ostrich farm near Mossel Bay had been placed under quarantine after the precautionary culling of 60 ostriches suspected of having avian influenza.

The temporary ban on moving ostriches and all types of poultry through, within, into and out of the affected area remains in force.

Anton Kruger, the chief executive of the SA Ostrich Business Chamber, said the EU ban would not have a significant impact on the poultry industry as it was low season for ostrich consumption in Europe.



The department said tests at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute confirmed that the H5N2 strain detected near Mossel Bay was similar to the one that South Africa had "successfully" eradicated in May 2004.

"It must be emphasised that the virus does not affect humans in any way and that all commercially available South African ostrich and poultry products are safe for human consumption," the department said.

In 2004 the EU imposed a ban on all South Africa's ostrich exports after a similar outbreak was detected in the Eastern Cape, which lead to a large-scale ostrich cull.

"In 2004 we lost R700 million and 4 000 jobs. The ban was for 15 months, from August 2004 to October 2005," said Kruger.

The export value of the industry was about R1.2 billion, with meat accounting for some R500 million. The bulk of the money came from leather and feather exports, not affected by the EU ban.

Kruger said that since 2004 the industry had taken steps to "tighten up" biosecurity.

The current EU ban will remain in place until the end of October and applies to live ostriches, eggs, meat and meat products. The ban also extends to emus, another flightless bird commonly found in Australia, but also farmed in South Africa.

 

[Mellie]

H5N2 Avian Influenza, South Africa in Ostriches

H5N2 Avian Influenza, South Africa in Ostriches

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/prome..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,33632

Archive Number 20060719.1984
Published Date 19-JUL-2006
Subject PRO/AH> Avian influenza, ostriches - South Africa, H5N2 (04)


AVIAN INFLUENZA, OSTRICHES - SOUTH AFRICA, H5N2 (04)
***********************************************
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: Wed 19 Jul 2006
From: Joe Dudley <jdudley@eaicorp.com>
Source: SAPA via IOL.Co, South Africa, 19 Jul 2006 [edited]
<http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=14&art_id=qw1153305541677B216>


Hundreds of ostriches culled
-------------------------------
Hundreds of ostriches are being culled after an outbreak of avian
influenza near Mossel Bay, the Western Cape's veterinary chief said
on Wednesday [19 Jul 2006]. "At least a couple of thousand will be
culled," said Dr James Kitching. He said the number was [relatively]
small, about the same number a single abattoir handled in a week.

Earlier in July 2006, the Department of Agriculture placed an ostrich
farm near Mossel Bay under quarantine when the flu was detected. The
department said the outbreak was not related to the deadly H5N1
strain, which has caused human fatalities in other parts of the world.

Local ostrich meat remained safe for human consumption.

Ostriches were killed with the assistance of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with birds stunned with an electric
shock before being shot. "We hope to be done by the end of the
week," Kitching said, adding that farmers were compensated for their loss.

A precautionary European Union ban, in place since early July 2006,
on the import of ostrich meat and meat-related products remains in force.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[see also:
Avian influenza, ostriches - South Africa (H5N2)(03): OIE 20060718.1970
Avian influenza, ostriches - South Africa, H5N2 (02) 20060706.1856
Avian influenza, ostriches - South Africa, H5N2: OIE 20060704.1834]
...............arn/msp/jw

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: H5N2 In South Africa

South Africa: Mossel Bay Avian Flu Outbreak Under Control

<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="180"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2">

</td><td align="middle"><table bgcolor="#e8e8ff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="180"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="10" height="10">

</td><td bgcolor="#e8e8ff">

</td><td align="right" valign="top" width="10" height="10">

</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#e8e8ff">

</td><td align="left" bgcolor="#e8e8ff" valign="top" width="160"><!-- left --><!-- text goes here -->Email This Page

Print This Page
Visit The Publisher's Site
</td><td bgcolor="#e8e8ff">

</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="bottom" width="10" height="10">

</td><td bgcolor="#e8e8ff">

</td><td align="right" valign="bottom" width="10" height="10">

</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">

</td></tr></tbody></table>BuaNews (Tshwane)
July 27, 2006
Posted to the web July 27, 2006
Veronica Mohapeloa

The Department of Agriculture says it has culled 8 000 ostriches in the Riversdale district, Western Cape, in an attempt to bring the outbreak of avian flu under control.
According to the department, follow-up investigations have shown no further signs of the disease.
The H5N2 strain of avian flu, which is harmless to humans, was detected at an ostrich farm about 30km west of Mossel Bay earlier this month.
This led to a European Union (EU) ban on imports of live ostriches, emus, eggs, meat and meat products from the area effective until October.
"All commercially available ostrich and poultry products remain safe for human consumption," Agriculture spokesperson Steve Galane said.
The department described the disease as being "rather similar" to the strain that South Africa successfully eradicated from ostriches in the recent years.
In 2004, South Africa culled around 15 000 ostriches to contain the contagious disease.

snip

<!-- end story layout piece here --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="455"><tbody><tr><td align="middle"><hr align="left" width="95%" size="1"></td></tr><tr><td class="copy" align="middle">
</td></tr></tbody></table>
http://allafrica.com/stories/200607270849.html