AVIAN FLU

[Guest]

Hi

I put this else where on the forum.

It has been passed by a Europeon directive that Racing Pigeons in Belgium no longer come in the category of Poultry. It will come into force in July of this year not June as i said earlier. I do not know if this will affect the English fanciers or other countries but it is a start in the right direction

ex_pat

[Guest]

OIE Website carries news of further H5N1 outbreaks in WILD BIRDS[/b

 

CROATIA: 13th January.

Carried out a shoot of 4 swans and 26 wild ducks; 2 swans tested positive for the virus;

 

UKRAINE: 13th January.

2 pigeons, a jay and a rook.

 

TURKEY: 19th January.

Yozgat & Aydin provinces: pigeons, swan, sparrow, cormorant, wild ducks;

Ankara, Erzincan: Bitlis provinces, pigeons, wild ducks.

 

(Results still awaited for many Turkish provinces).

[Guest]

NOTICE TO ALL  ORGANSIATIONS

 

The following advice has recently been sent to organisations with regard Avian Influenza. As you will be aware, DEFRA has given permission for shows, sales gathering and racing to take place subject to general licence conditions. Part of these conditions mean that they will only permit inland racing until 31st May 2006. This is the date when the European Union will review the current legislation and decide what further measures, if any, to implement.

 

The situation of late in Turkey may give cause for concern. Despite recently asking DEFRA for dispensation to race from the continent in May they are unable to give permission so far in advance. My advice is therefore as follows:

 

1 If you hope to race from the continent post 1st May (old bird & young bird) then please send your race programme and booking fees in as normal and we will apply for permits accordingly.

 

2 I strongly recommend that each organisation has a contingency to revert to an inland programme, should continental racing not take place. This will help you plan and keep your members up to date. It will also help us to make provision with liberation site owners, ferry companies and foreign federations where appropriate.

 

You will also have to consider the fact that any costs for permits and administration will have to be borne by user organisations should racing from the continent not be permitted. Similarly, should we get the green light and you have not booked sites then it is doubtful that we would be able to obtain permits at short notice. I appreciate that this is something of a Hobson’s’ choice. I have written to our UK liberation site owners to reassure them about the low threat posed by racing pigeons and to also explain that we may be asking them at short notice to book sites and asking for their co-operation in what is likely to be a difficult season.

 

I will, of course, endeavour to pursue with DEFRA racing from the continent for May and June. If I am honest I would only give our chances as 50/50 at the moment. I enclose a copy of the licence requirements taken from the DEFRA website. Please note in particular that organisations must advise their local Animal Health Office nearest to the liberation site at least 14 days prior to the date of the intended liberation. A copy of their contact numbers is also attached. Further information is available on the DEFRA website and you are recommended to check this regularly as the situation is likely to change.

 

I am also clarifying the situation with regards to racing from the Channel Islands and into Northern Ireland. As soon as I have some firm news on these I will report accordingly.

 

Peter Bryant

General Manager

[Guest]

Worrying extract from World Health Organisation situation update for China, dated 25th January. There's been a small number of human cases in areas free from avian flu outbreaks in birds:

 

 

This is the second human case reported this year in China, both from Sichuan Province. The two Sichuan cases occurred in different prefectures located around 150 km apart. A confirmed outbreak of H5N1 in poultry began in late December in another part of the province. No outbreaks have been confirmed in the areas where the two human cases resided.

 

During 2005, Chinese agricultural authorities reported 32 outbreaks in poultry in 12 provinces, resulting in the culling of more than 24 million birds. The appearance of human cases in areas without reported poultry outbreaks is a cause for concern. WHO recommends that, in China, testing for possible H5N1 infection should be undertaken in all cases of severe respiratory disease having no alternative diagnosis, even when no poultry outbreak has been reported in the patient’s area of residence.

 

Of the ten cases confirmed in China, seven have been fatal. The cases have occurred in 7 provinces and regions: Anhui, Guangxi, Liaoning, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, and Sichuan. No poultry outbreaks have been officially reported in two of these provinces.

[Guest]

Worriesome news from WHO website:

 

(1) 12 of the 21 referred human cases of H5N1 have been proved positive by the UK reference laboratory. Tests continue on the other 9 samples.

 

(2) IRAQ - 3 human cases, no reported 'poultry' outbreaks, although tests on dead poultry have been arranged. Article below:-

 

 

Avian influenza – situation in Iraq

 

30 January 2006

 

The Ministry of Health in Iraq has confirmed the country’s first case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case occurred in a 15-year-old girl who died on 17 January following a severe respiratory illness. Her symptoms were compatible with a diagnosis of H5N1 avian influenza.

 

Preliminary laboratory confirmation was provided by a US Naval Medical Research Unit located in Cairo, Egypt.

 

The girl’s 39-year-old uncle, who cared for her during her illness, developed symptoms on 24 January and died of a severe respiratory disease on 27 January.

 

Both patients resided in the town of Raniya near Sulaimaniyah in the northern part of the country, close to the border with Turkey. Poultry deaths were recently reported in their neighbourhood, but H5N1 avian influenza has not yet been confirmed in birds in any part of the country. Poultry samples have been sent for testing at an external laboratory.

 

A history of exposure to diseased birds has been found for the girl. The uncle’s source of infection is under investigation.

 

The Ministry of Health has further informed WHO of a third human case of respiratory illness that is under investigation for possible H5N1 infection. The patient is a 54-year-old woman, from the same area, who was hospitalized on 18 January.

 

Samples from all three patients have been sent to a WHO collaborating laboratory in the United Kingdom for diagnostic confirmation and further analysis.

 

An international team, including representatives of other UN agencies, is being assembled to assist the Ministry of Health in its investigation of the situation and its planning of an appropriate public health response. WHO staff within Iraq have been directly supporting the government’s operational response, which was launched shortly after the girl’s death.

 

Iraq is the seventh country to report human H5N1 infection in the current outbreak. The first human case occurred in Viet Nam in December 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ribble]

id say thats the least of there worries,still more chance of getting slotted......

[Guest]

id say thats the least of there worries,still more chance of getting slotted......

 

Humble opinion: short sighted. Overlooks type of people involved in this sorry affair and the immediate threat of DELIBERATE spread of the disease through terrorist acts ... a REAL biological weapon of mass economic (if not human) destruction.

[Guest]

Further to previous report on Northern Iraq, now confirmed H5N1 outbreak in poultry. Human case confirmed in Southern Iraq, source not poultry - possibly 'pet birds'.

 

 

Avian influenza – situation in Iraq - Update 2

 

7 February 2006

 

A WHO-led team of international experts, including veterinary expertise from FAO, is now in the Erbil and Sulaimaniyah area of northern Iraq, where a fatal human case of H5N1 infection was confirmed on 30 January. Confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 in poultry were reported in the area on 2 February.

 

The team has met with officials in the country’s ministries of health and agriculture and is now assessing the situation in hospitals, laboratories, and animals. A list of immediate needs for support has been established.

 

Government officials have expressed a need for emergency supplies and equipment, including antiviral drugs, and these have already begun to arrive in the country. A 24-hour emergency operations centre has been set up in the WHO regional office in Cairo to facilitate coordination and provide back-up support.

 

The transportation of patient samples for diagnostic confirmation has encountered difficulties. Ways to strengthen local testing capacity are being explored together with ways to expedite the shipment of samples to WHO reference laboratories. The team has noted a need to upgrade biosafety standards in local and national laboratories.

 

Intensive culling of poultry is under way in the area; improved diagnostic capacity for poultry is needed to focus these efforts better. Training to enhance the diagnostic capacity of veterinary laboratories and improve surveillance has already begun. Requests for essential supplies, including diagnostic reagents, are being met.

 

The area has around 1.3 million poultry mainly raised by individual households, who depend on these animals for income and food. Discussions are under way to develop a compensation scheme that could lessen the hardship on these families.

 

The team found a good system in place for detecting and managing possible human cases, collecting specimens, and tracing and monitoring contacts. Some improvements in isolation wards are planned. Intensive training courses are being organized for hospital staff to ensure that proper measures for personal protection and infection control are in place.

 

Two patients hospitalized for observation have been discharged, though their condition continues to be monitored by local health teams. At present, 7 patients are being treated, in isolation, at hospitals in the area. Most of these patients have reported a history of direct contact with diseased poultry.

 

In addition to the confirmed fatal case, two patients under investigation for possible H5N1 infection have died. Specimens from one of these, the 39-year-old uncle of the confirmed case, have tested positive for H5N1 infection in a local laboratory; his infection has not yet been confirmed by a WHO reference laboratory.

 

A possible H5N1 case in the southern part of the country has been officially reported to WHO by the Ministry of Health. The case, a 13-year-old boy from the Omara area, developed symptoms on 1 February, was hospitalized with severe pneumonia on 5 February, and died the same day. Although no poultry deaths have been reported in the area, pet birds kept by the family are said to have died near the time of symptom onset.

 

Samples from the boy have been taken. The Minister of Health and a team from the country’s Centre for Disease Control will visit the Omara area tomorrow to investigate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bewted]

just seen on CNN news,most virulant form of bird flu in NIGERIA,did not catch all of story,but,thought headline worth a mention on here,,,,,ted

[Pompey Mick]

Check the Defra website and it confirms that Avia flu is in Nigeria also there is a report on the possibility of Avian Flu in three dead swans in Greece. The website is www.defra.gov.uk  

[Guest]

I have combined a World (Human) Health Organisation report with an extract from a report to World (Animal) Health Organisation, both on China.

 

I think you will find them interesting. The first is on another case of human avian flu in an area with no corresponding outbreak in birds, and the second is an extract of the resultant extensive investigations in birds in these areas which showed that the local pigeons were in the clear.

 

 

Avian influenza – situation in China – update 3

9 February 2006

 

The Ministry of Health in China has reported the country’s eleventh laboratory confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

 

The case is a 26-year-old female farmer from the south-eastern province of Fujian. She developed symptoms on 10 January and was subsequently hospitalized with pneumonia. She remains under treatment in stable condition.

 

Like many of the other cases in China, this one occurred in an area where no recent poultry outbreaks have been officially reported.

 

Of China’s eleven laboratory confirmed cases, seven have been fatal. The cases have occurred in seven provinces and regions: Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Liaoning, and Sichuan.

 

The continuing occurrence of sporadic human cases indicates that the virus is continuing to circulate in birds in at least some parts of the country. Since May 2005, agricultural authorities have reported 32 poultry outbreaks across the country, the majority of which were reported in October and November 2005.

 

Three poultry outbreaks have been reported so far this year: one in Sichuan Province on 3 January, one in Guizhou Province on 10 January, and one in Shanxi Province on 8 February.

 

The country’s first two confirmed human cases of H5N1 infection were reported in mid-November of last year.                    

 

MISCELLANEOUS: HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE IN ANIMALS RELATED TO AVIAN INFLUENZA HUMAN CASES OBSERVED IN CHINA (PEOPLE'S REP. OF ~)

 

Information received on 27 January 2006 from Mr Jia Youling, Director General, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing:

 

Report date: 27 January 2006.

 

Special note: since no animal outbreaks were found, the local veterinary department had disposed of the poultry raised in the backyards of the patient and neighbours by deep burial. Upon arrival of the expert group dispatched by Ministry of Agriculture, the buried chickens were dug up, collected and tested; no positive results were found.

 

Stringent surveillance measures were applied to domestic poultry and pigeons and other birds in Wuhou District, including 71,160 chickens, 8,997 ducks and 118,727 pigeons.

 

Surveillance results: no abnormal deaths were found.

 

Cloacal swab samples were collected from the chickens, ducks and pigeons in sites surrounding the patient's place of residence. Surveillance results: negative.

 

 

 

This for me is the puzzle: why do some strains of the H5N1 virus affect pigeons, for example, Hong Kong, Thailand and Turkey, while others obviously don't, like this one in China? How CAN you plan against something so unpredictable?

[Guest]

This is an update on the World Human Health Organisation report, part of post 480 of 28th December 05. The corresponding report from World Animal Health Organisation Website wasn’t published until recently and both reports taken together are worrisome news for pigeon fanciers: Extract from WHO report to refresh memories:

 

Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update 50

 

23 December 2005

 

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed two additional cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

 

The first case occurred in an 8-year-old boy from Central Jakarta. He developed symptoms of fever and cough on 8 December. He was hospitalised on 13 December, and died on 15 December.

 

Family members and close contacts were placed under observation and tested for possible infection, however, none have developed symptoms. Investigations have been undertaken to determine the source of the boy's exposure and samples from pigeons around his household are being tested.

 

HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN INDONESIA

 

Follow-up report No. 11

 

Information received on 6 January 2006 from Dr Mathur Riady, Director General of Livestock Services, Department of Agriculture, Jakarta:

 

 

Affected population in the new outbreaks: native chickens, broilers, layers, quails, ducks, pigeons.

 

 

List of countries in which H5N1 has been found in pigeons is: Hong Kong, Thailand, Turkey and Indonesia.

 

 

[tartanboy]

hey bruno why not lay off this subject,you believe all you read?these posting are now being read by all and sundrie and guess what ta ta pigeons if theres an outbreak here thanks ti you,please pack it in.if people want info they can find it in the homing world .

[Guest]

The Ta Ta pigeon (sales and shows) wasn't thanks to me, it was thanks to avian flu, a fancy that was in the main badly informed and hence didn't appreciate the risks, and an overraction from DEFRA, (overreaction given no avian flu here) which many had predicted as far back as the first early posts in this forum.

 

Funny you don't mention anyone elses posts, Tartanboy. Needing another scapegoat / whipping boy????

[Guest]

Bird flu now reported in Germany and austria

[aarden]

its in italy

[Guest]

It's just been on BBC America found in Swans in Germany and austria

[Guest]

No it don't Rose

[tartanboy]

hey bruno explain scapegoat and whipping boy,you seem to be thinking your the only one posting on this site, but your the one that keeps mentioning pigeons as carriers,give me your professional view on pigeons as carriers.i take it you are a vet or expert on this dangerous subject.

[jimmy white]

wheather we like it or not, the info, given by bruno has been fact ,and not gossip, sometimes it doesnt make good reading, but we can" change channel" if we want to, personally i would rather see these factual updates than sweep it under the carpet, this is getting more dangerous than ever now, belgium is not that far away.my own opinion would be that the most dangerous carriers, would be the hawks, as they could just as easy be feeding on infected birds, then pass it to the" few that escape"

these cannibal birds, have to pose a threat, and a very bad one at that

[Guest]

First..

 

hey bruno ... you believe all you read? ... and guess what ta ta pigeons if theres an outbreak here thanks ti you, ... if people want info they can find it in the homing world .

 

Then..

 

hey bruno explain scapegoat and whipping boy,you seem to be thinking your the only one posting on this site, but your the one that keeps mentioning pigeons as carriers,give me your professional view on pigeons as carriers.i take it you are a vet or expert on this dangerous subject..

 

explain scapegoat and whipping boy = thanks ti you ta ta pigeons if theres an outbreak here + despite others posting, (as you admit, second time round) I'm the only one told to lay off. = scapegoat

 

your the one that keeps mentioning pigeons as carriers give me your professional view on pigeons as carriers.i take it you are a vet or expert on this dangerous subject. My posts are copied from reliable and professional sources, usually the World (Human) Health Organisation (WHO), the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and a group of pigeon vets with world-wide standing, headed by Gordon Chalmers. I have also emailed published researchers or experts on avian flu, like Dr Kaleta, Germany, Dr Swayne, USA, & Dr Brown UK. It is very rarely my own opinion but the previously published opinions, views and facts from these professionals, or email replies from them, which are posted by me here. I have no reason to doubt what they say, given their background.

 

My opinion: The only thing dangerous about this subject (avian flu) is continued ignorance of it. From the current posts of further spread into Europe (bearing in mind its only February, and the high risk period is supposed to be March & April) I think our Unions need to be thinking about a contingency plan to protect our birds from infection AND Governments, so that if push comes to shove, the pigeons at least live to race another year.

 

[westburylofts]

 

I think you only have to look at the amount veiw's for these post's.

 

look's as if lots of members/guest's have looked, how many have complained. ???.

 

 

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BRUNO

 

RAY

[Guest]

Following up the posts on further outbreaks in Europe, the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) lists 17 countries with 'fresh' outbreaks since the beginning of this year. 'New in Europe':

 

Bulgaria. 1 swan (cygnus olor) ..31st Jan.

 

Greece. 1 swan (found dead at sea) ... 30th Jan.

..........  1 wild goose (Skyros island) ... 3rd Feb.

 

Italy. 6 swans (cygnus olor) ... 1st Feb.

 

Slovenia. 1 swan (cygnus olor) ... 11th Feb.

 

Croatia also found 26 wild ducks (anas platyrhyncos) infected with H5N3 ... LPAI? ...7th Feb.

 

The German outbreaks have not yet been reported to OIE.  

[Guest]

Keep up the good work Bruno, the old saying ignorance is bliss may well work for some but I for one want to know what's going on with this and you are doing us all a great service with your posts.

By not talking about it openly only makes it look like we do not believe what our own vets are saying.

[Guest]

Further follow-up on earlier posts on GERMANY, more info on GREECE and an update on TURKEY (OIE Website today).

 

Good and bad news - A GOSHAWK INFECTED IN GERMANY, 2 pigeons infected in Turkey. (We have reliable info now that owls, goshawks, peregrines are all susceptible to H5N1).

 

 

Germany

 

 

4 swans and 1 goshawk were found dead on 08/02/2006 in two locations in the north of the island of Rügen in the Baltic sea. AIV

 

H5N1 has been diagnosed in two of the swans (Cygnus olor, Cygnus cygnus) and the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) by NRL Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut and confirmed by CRL Weybridge.

 

 

Greece

 

On 30-01-2006 in the sea area of Paralia-Katerini, a fisherman found a dead swan and brought it at the sea-shore. The veterinary authorities collected the swan and sent it to the NRL immediately. The swan belongs to a “flock” that arrived some 20 days ago, probably from North due to bad weather conditions. No anatomo-pathological signs were observed. In addition, the Veterinary Authority of Pieria has been applying an epizootic survey, since 9 of February 2006, at the whole area of the Prefecture, far more than the circle of 10 kms around the point of collection. According to this survey, there are no findings of Avian Influenza in the area, while strict biosecurity measures have been applied to all poultry farms, especially to backyard flocks kept at the villages of the whole Prefecture.

 

On 31-01-2006 in the area of Stavros village, people informed the veterinary authorities about the presence of one swan found dead on the coast. The veterinary authorities collected the swan and sent it to the NRL immediately. The swan belongs to a “flock” that arrived some 20 days ago, probably from North due to bad weather conditions. No anatomo-pathological signs were observed. In addition, the Veterinary Authority of Thessaloniki has been applying an epizootic survey, since 9 of February 2006, at the whole area of the Prefecture, far more than the circle of 10 kms around the point of collection. According to this survey, there are no findings of Avian Influenza in the area, while strict biosecurity measures have been applied to all poultry farms, especially to backyard flocks kept at the villages of the whole Prefecture.

 

On 1-02-2006 in the area of Nei Epivates village, people informed the veterinary authorities about the presence of one swan found dead on the coast. The veterinary authorities collected the swan and sent it to the NRL immediately. The swan belongs to a “flock” that arrived some 20 days ago, probably from North due to bad weather conditions. No anatomo-pathological signs were observed. In addition, the Veterinary Authority of Thessaloniki has been applying an epizootic survey, since 9 of February 2006, at the whole area of the Prefecture, far more than the circle of 10 km around the point of collection. According to this survey, there are no findings of Avian Influenza in the area, while strict biosecurity measures have been applied to all poultry farms, especially to backyard flocks kept at the villages of the whole Prefecture.

 

Turkey

 

H5 virus was found positive in a swan in Bartin province, in two pigeons in Diyarbakir and Mardin provinces, in two starlings in Samsun province and in an owl and a wild bird in Tokat.

 

Between December 15, 2005- and February 15, 2006, in total 1,872,525 poultry within the outbreaks and outside of the outbreaks were culled.

 

At the moment there are 50 suspect cases in domestic birds (backyard flocks) in 24 Provinces and 4 suspect individual cases (in wild birds) in 4 provinces.

 

11 outbreaks in 7 provinces were ended.