Uruguay: 2023 Avian flu in wild birds

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.prensa-latina.cu/2023/0...o-primer-caso-de-gripe-aviar-en-ave-silvestre

Uruguay recognized first case of bird flu in wild birds
Montevideo, Feb 15 (Prensa Latina) The first case of bird flu in Uruguay was confirmed today by the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (GAP), Fernando Mattos.
February 15, 2023
CST11:04 (GMT) -0500

The case was verified in a black-necked swan on the coast of the Garzón lagoon, which borders the departments of Maldonado and Rocha.

Mattos said at a press conference that Uruguay informed the relevant international entities, including the World Organization for Animal Health.

The headline stressed that measures are taken for biosecurity in poultry farms, and recognized that the disease is a threat to that industry and warned about the dangers for native fauna and backyard birds.

In December 2022, the MGAP called for intensifying efforts to prevent influenza or avian flu from entering the country, since several cases appeared in the region.

 

[Pathfinder]

Uruguay - Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
ZONE

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
OIE-listed

EVENT ID
4900

DISEASE
Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-)

CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
Pending

START DATE
2023/02/14

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
First occurrence in the country

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
-

CONFIRMATION DATE
2023/02/14

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE
-

SELF-DECLARATION
NO

REPORT INFORMATION
REPORT NUMBER
Immediate notification

REPORT ID
IN_159331

REPORT REFERENCE
-

REPORT DATE
2023/02/15

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT
-

EPIDEMIOLOGY

SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
Contact with wild species

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS

Following surveillance carried out by the General Directorate of Livestock Services, on February 14, the Park Ranger Service of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) notified dead black-necked swans in Laguna Garzón, between the Departments of Maldonado and Rocha. The animals were sampled and buried on site. Samples were sent to the official laboratory. Detection of influenza A virus matrix protein gene was performed by real-time RT-PCR as part of screening and two samples were positive. Then, H5 gene detection was performed by real-time RT-PCR and the results were positive. In the area where the event occurred, active surveillance will be carried out within a 5 km radius. A health emergency was declared throughout the country, restricting movements within the national territory of backyard poultry and birds that are not controlled through the poultry monitoring system. Fairs, auctions, exhibitions and poultry-related events were suspended.
...

NEW OUTBREAKS

OB_114078 - MALDONADO
OUTBREAK REFERENCE
-

START DATE
2023/02/14

END DATE
-

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Maldonado

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
n.a523

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
-

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
Natural park

LOCATION
Maldonado

Latitude, Longitude
-34.798 , -54.568

(Approximate location)
OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
-

MEASURING UNIT
Animal

AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
-

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Black-necked Swan (WILD)NEW-5 5---
TOTAL-5 5---

https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4900

 

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Uruguay asked Chile for help for avian flu

17 February 2023 - 12:27

The government wants to prevent the spread of the virus and requested support from the trans-Andean country, which has experience in dealing with avian influenza outbreaks.

Uruguay requested help from Chile to deal with a possible outbreak of bird flu in the country after the first case of this disease was confirmed in a Black-necked swan in the Laguna Garzón area.

The Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) , Fernando Mattos, requested the help of the Chilean government —which today detected the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a sea lion, and previously also registered cases in penguins— to address the prevention and possible containment of an outbreak of H5 Avian Influenza in the country, based on the experience that the trans-Andean nation has faced with cases of this disease.

In this sense, Uruguay awaits the arrival of Chilean experts who can advise the MGAP teams on what may become a new problem of importance for agricultural production in the country, especially for the poultry sector, when the rains are still far from being enough to alleviate the great water deficit that the territory suffers .

Meanwhile, the ministry continues to search the Laguna Garzón, between the departments of Maldonado and Rocha, where several specimens of Black-necked swans were found dead —one of which tested positive for bird flu, becoming the first case in the country.

Health emergency throughout the country, what is it about?

The state of health emergency involves, first of all, reinforcing border controls to prevent the entry and exit of new cases to the countries of the region, which are also beginning to report the first infections —so far, only Paraguay and Brazil have not . have reported the presence of the disease in their territories.

Likewise, the exceptional status restricts all movements within the national territory of backyard birds —roosters, hens, chickens, and geese that are raised in home chicken coops or in backyards— and birds not controlled through the Poultry Monitoring System . And backyard birds and those that make up the Free Range productive system must be housed in closed, covered facilities in compliance with the Avian Influenza Contingency Manual approved in 2022.

In parallel, in addition, all fairs, auctions, exhibitions and events related to the avian species were suspended, with legal sanctions for those who fail to comply with this or any of the decreed measures.

https://www.ambito.com/uruguay/pidio-ayuda-chile-la-gripe-aviar-n5654376

 

[Pathfinder]

Uruguay - Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Follow up report 2

GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
ZONE

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
OIE-listed

EVENT ID
4900

DISEASE
Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-)

CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
H5 (N untyped)

START DATE
2023/02/14

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
First occurrence in the country

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
-

CONFIRMATION DATE
2023/02/14

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE
-

SELF-DECLARATION
NO

REPORT INFORMATION
REPORT NUMBER
Follow-up report 2

REPORT ID
FUR_159870

REPORT REFERENCE
-

REPORT DATE
2023/03/16

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT
-

EPIDEMIOLOGY

SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
Contact with wild species

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
Following surveillance carried out by the General Directorate of Livestock Services, on February 14, the Park Ranger Service of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) notified dead black-necked swans in Laguna Garzón, between the Departments of Maldonado and Rocha. The animals were sampled and buried on site. Samples were sent to the official laboratory. Detection of influenza A virus matrix protein gene was performed by real-time RT-PCR as part of screening and two samples were positive. Then, H5 gene detection was performed by real-time RT-PCR and the results were positive. In the area where the event occurred, active surveillance will be carried out within a 5 km radius. A health emergency was declared throughout the country, restricting movements within the national territory of backyard poultry and birds that are not controlled through the poultry monitoring system. Fairs, auctions, exhibitions and poultry-related events were suspended. On Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17, monitoring activities were carried out in the outbreak zone, the zone around the outbreak and the surveillance zones. To date, 100 dead swans have been removed from Laguna Garzón (outbreak zone) and buried in situ. In the zone around the outbreak and the surveillance zone (buffer zones 5 and 10 km around the outbreak zone), 120 premises were monitored and geo-referenced. Clinical inspection and characterization were carried out according to the following criteria: 1) absence of domestic birds (95); 2) presence of domestic birds (15); 3) presence of multi-species birds and/or contact with wild birds (8); 4) presence of animals with clinical signs or dead animals (2). In the two premises with a history of mortality and animals with signs, samples were taken from two hens and a goose, which were negative. In addition, a brown-hooded gull (Larus maculipennis) and a black vulture (Coragyps atratus) were found dead in the area and were sampled and found to be negative. Monitoring continues in areas at risk in the lake ecosystem based on active surveillance. Weekly clinical surveillance has been on-going in the five premises at-risk in the Laguna Garzón area, with no mortality or signs. The work of the official services with the Ministry of the Environment and the Prefecture continues with removal and burial of dead wild birds in Laguna Garzón. As of March 11, 138 black-necked swans and 8 other birds were removed and buried.


...

NEW OUTBREAKS
OB_115795 - CANELONES
OUTBREAK REFERENCE
-

START DATE
2023/03/14

END DATE
-

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Canelones

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
n.a342

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
-

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
Body of water

LOCATION
Canelones

Latitude, Longitude
-34.5713 , -55.7469

(Approximate location)
OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
-

MEASURING UNIT
Animal

AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
As part of the DGSG surveillance actions, mortality of black-necked swans was detected in a body of water in the Department of Canelones. The samples were sent to the official laboratory and were positive for H5. The animals were buried according to the carcass disposal protocol. In the area, monitoring actions began in the focal zone and in the perifocal and surveillance zones (a buffer of 5 and 10 km from the focal zone).

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Black-necked Swan (WILD) NEW - 4 4 - - -
TOTAL - 4 4 - - -

...
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4900

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.plenglish.com/news/2023/04/01/new-outbreak-of-avian-flu-in-uruguay/

New outbreak of avian flu in Uruguay
April 1, 2023
CDT11:04 (GMT) -0400
Published by: Ana Luisa Brown

A black-necked swan died from the disease in a locality in the department of San José, west of here.

The area is a nature reserve with abundant wild birds.

This is the eighth outbreak in Uruguay, in the departments of Canelones, Flores, Maldonado, Montevideo, Tacuarembó and now San José...

 

[Pathfinder]

Uruguay - Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Follow up report 5

GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
ZONE

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
Listed disease

EVENT ID
4947

DISEASE
Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-)

CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
H5 (N untyped)

START DATE
2023/03/03

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
First occurrence in the country

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
-

CONFIRMATION DATE
2023/03/03

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE
-

SELF-DECLARATION
NO

REPORT INFORMATION
REPORT NUMBER
Follow-up report 5

REPORT ID
FUR_161068

REPORT REFERENCE
-

REPORT DATE
2023/05/25

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT
-

EPIDEMIOLOGY
SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
Contact with wild species

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS

To date, weekly screening continues in the perifocal and surveillance areas of both outbreaks (San Gregorio de Polanco and Montevideo), and no animals or other affected premises have been found. Samples for the sequencing of avian influenza virus genomes were sent to the Evolutionary Genetics Section of the Faculty of Sciences and processed by the Microorganism Genetics Research Group with the participation of DILAVE technicians. The samples corresponded to nucleic acid extractions (RNA/DNA) performed from swabs in six different outbreaks. The samples had been diagnosed by real time PCR (qPCR) and threshold cycle values (Cts) had been obtained for all of them. The investigators' report is transcribed below: Conclusions: The Uruguayan strains are H5 of the 2.3.4.4.4b subclade of the genetic lineage called GS/GD. This lineage, known as GS/GD, was derived from a strain called "1996 A/goose/Guangdong/1/" detected in 1996 in geese from Guangdong, a province in southern China. Subclade 2.3.4.4b reached North America (Canada) in 2021 (Caliendo et al., 2022) and subsequently spread to the United States, entering South America in 2022. Many of the HPAI influenza cases that have been genetically characterized since 2020 are from clade 2.3.4.4b and H5N1, although this clade may contain neuraminidase from other origins. The South American strains appear to be all H5N1. This lineage has continued to diversify and shows particular properties, including an enormous dispersal capacity and the ability to infect avian and mammalian hosts, causing clinical symptoms that reach high levels of mortality in some species (https://www.who.int/publications/m/...cent-influenza-a(h5n1)-clade-2.3.4.4b-viruses). This lineage appears to be transmitted between individuals of the same mammalian species under conditions of captivity and high population density, such as mink breeding farms (Agüero et al., 2023). There are also about ten cases of subclade 2.3.4.4b that have been detected in humans, including in South America (Bruno et al., 2023). Most of the cases seem to correspond to people handling or in contact with contaminated birds, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission. On May 11th, a report was received of 10 dead hens in a backyard. This backyard is adjacent to the outbreak on May 4th in Lascano. The animals were culled and buried, and the premises were disinfected.
...

NEW OUTBREAKS

OB_119145 - LASCANO
OUTBREAK REFERENCE
-

START DATE
2023/05/11

END DATE
-

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Rocha

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
n.a128

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
-

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
Backyard

LOCATION
Lascano

Latitude, Longitude
-33.7444 , -54.2844

(Approximate location)
OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
-

MEASURING UNIT
Animal

AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
There were 10 hens and 5 ducks in the affected backyard; the animals were culled and buried.

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Birds (DOMESTIC)
Non-poultry birds
NEW 15 10 10 5 - -
TOTAL 15 10 10 5 - -

...
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4947​