Monday, June 17, 2013
Bird Flu Outbreaks Cut Feed Ingredient ImportsMEXICO - The state of Jalisco lost 24.6 million laying hens valued at $745 million as well as export markets as the result of the avian influenza A(H7N3) outbreak last year. Imports of US DDGS have fallen as a result.
ThePoultrySite News Desk
Bird Flu Outbreaks Cut Feed Ingredient ImportsMEXICO - The state of Jalisco lost 24.6 million laying hens valued at $745 million as well as export markets as the result of the avian influenza A(H7N3) outbreak last year. Imports of US DDGS have fallen as a result.
ThePoultrySite News DeskFriday, June 14, 2013
Qatar Lifts Import Ban on Thai Chicken MeatTHAILAND - Thailand's Foreign Ministry said Friday Qatar has lifted a ten-year ban on Thai chicken meat, Xinhua news agency reported.
Bernama.comThursday, June 13, 2013
Mexico Confirms Further Eight HPAI OutbreaksMEXICO - The Mexican veterinary authorities have reported eight new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI; H7N3) at various farms in the states of Puebla, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Jalisco, starting between 16 April and 23 May 2013.
ThePoultrySite News DeskWednesday, June 12, 2013
Highly (H5N1) and Low (H7N2) Pathogenic Avian Flu Virus Infection in FalconsSPAIN - A new study at the Autonomous University of Barcelona demonstrates that gyr-saker hybrid falcons are highly susceptible to H5N1 HPAI virus infection, as previously observed, and that they may play a major role in the spreading of both HPAI and LPAI viruses.
For the first time in raptors, natural infection by feeding on infected prey was successfully reproduced.
The use of avian prey species in falconry husbandry and wildlife rehabilitation facilities could put valuable birds of prey and humans at risk and, therefore, this practice should be closely monitored.
PloS OneMonday, June 10, 2013
Duck Genome Provides New Insight into Fighting Bird FluCHINA - The duck genome consortium, consisted of scientists from China Agricultural University, BGI, University of Edinburgh and other institutes has completed the genome sequencing and analysis of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos), one principal natural host of influenza A viruses, which caused a new epidemic in China since this February.
ThePoultrySite News Desk
WHO RISK ASSESSMENT: Human Infections with Avian Flu H7N9 Virus - 7 June 2013GLOBAL - A total of 132 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection
with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus have been reported to WHO; 131 cases
by China National Health and Family Planning Commission and one case by the Taipei Centers for Disease Control (Taipei CDC).
Thirty-seven people have died, and most of the other cases were considered severe.
World Health OrganizationFriday, June 07, 2013
Bird Flu Virus Infects 724 People in VenezuelaVENEZUELA - A total of 724 people have been infected with the A/H1N1 bird flu virus so far this year in Venezuela, the Health Ministry said Thursday (6 June).
ThePoultrySite News Desk
Haiti Bans Poultry Imports from Dominican RepublicHAITI - A warning has been issued by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health on the resurgence of avian flu in the Dominican Republic, and the matter has been confirmed by a diplomatic mission to the latter country.
ThePoultrySite News DeskThursday, June 06, 2013
Kuwait Bans Imports of Live Birds, Eggs from Spain KUWAIT - The Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAF) banned Wednesday the imports of live birds and eggs from Spain.
KUNAWednesday, June 05, 2013
HK Bans Poultry Imports from Dutch, Danish FarmsHONG KONG - Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety said Tuesday (4 June) that it has suspended the import of poultry, poultry products and eggs from parts of Denmark and the Netherlands.
ThePoultrySite News DeskTuesday, June 04, 2013
DuPont Provides UK Poultry Farmers Advice on Avian InfluenzaUK - With Avian Influenza (AI) virus confirmed on a poultry farm in Suffolk, global veterinary biosecurity expert, DuPont is providing UK farmers with important advice on how to protect valuable flocks from possible infection.
ThePoultrySite News Desk
LPAI Detected in DenmarkDENMARK - The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has reported an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza, serotype H7, in the western region of Viborg, affecting a hatchry for farmed game birds (1,400 mallards and 12,500 pheasants).
ThePoultrySite News Desk
OIE Reports LPAI in Utrecht, NetherlandsNETHERLANDS - The Dutch veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in Utrecht.
ThePoultrySite News Desk
More LPAI Reported in TaiwanTAIWAN - The Taiwanese veterinary authorities have reported a further outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), serotype H5N2, at a poultry farm in P'eng-hu, affecting broilers (sentinel chicken).
ThePoultrySite News DeskMonday, June 03, 2013
Beijing's Second H7N9 Patient DischargedCHINA - The second person who fell ill with H7N9 in Beijing was discharged from hospital at noon on Friday after negative results for three consecutive virus tests, said the city's health bureau.
China Daily
Barbados on Bird Flu WatchBARBADOS - Barbados is closely monitoring China’s new bird flu.
The Barbados AdvocateThursday, May 30, 2013
Human Infection with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus – Update 29 May 2013CHINA - The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of an additional laboratory confirmed case of human infection with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) virus.
The patient is a six-year-old boy reported from Beijing who became ill on 21 May 2013 and is in stable condition.
To date, WHO has been informed of a total of 132 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 37 deaths.
WHOWednesday, May 29, 2013
Sarawak Bans Poultry from China, Countries with Bird Flu HistoryMALAYSIA - Sarawak does not allow the importation of poultry and poultry products from China or from countries with a history of avian influenza as a preventive measure against the bird flu virus, dubbed the H7N9 avian influenza, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said Wednesday.
Bernama.com
Brazilian Poultry Industry Intensifies Strategies against Bird FluBRAZIL - The Brazilian Poultry Union (UBABEF) has reported that the poultry industry is prepared to fight against outbreaks of avian influenza in the world, including the latest variety, H7N9, recently discovered in eastern and central China.
ThePoultrySite News Desk
(aka bird flu, avian flu) is caused by a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide. A strain of the H5N1-type of avian influenza virus that emerged in 1997 has been identified as the most likely source of a future influenza pandemic.
Strains of avian influenza virus may infect various types of animals, including birds, pigs, horses, seals, whales and humans. However, wild fowl act as natural asymptomatic carriers, spreading it to more susceptible domestic stocks. Avian influenza virus spreads in the air and in manure and there is no evidence that the virus can survive in well cooked meat.
How to Recognise Avian Influenza
What to look for
- Ruffled feathers
- Soft-shelled eggs
- Depression and droopiness
- Sudden drop in egg production
- Loss of appetite
- Cyanosis (purplish-blue coloring) of wattles and comb
- Edema and swelling of head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
- Green diarrhoea
- Blood-tinged discharge from nostrils
- Incoordination, including loss of ability to walk and stand
- Pin-point hemorrhages (most easily seen on the feet and shanks)
- Respiratory distress
- Increased death losses in a flock
- Sudden death
- Nasal discharges
For more detail in avian influenza in poultry
click here
Poultry Vaccination as a strategy for controlling AI in commercial birds
Outbreaks of avian influenza in the poultry industry cause devastating economic losses and is generally controlled through extensive culling of infected birds. Alternative strategies also use vaccination as a supplementary control measure during avian influenza outbreaks.
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Advantages of Vaccination
- Vaccination reduces susceptibility to infection.
- A higher dose of virus is necessary to infect the vaccinated birds.
- Vaccinated birds shed less virus.
- Decreased contamination of the environment.
- Decreased risk of human infection
- Used strategically vaccination compliments a stamping out strategy by slowing/stopping the spread of the virus
For more information on poultry vaccination see:
Avian Influenza (Fowl Plague) is a potentially devastating disease, predominantly of chickens and turkeys, although the virus can also affect game birds (pheasants, partridge and quail), ratites (ostrich and emu), psittacine and passerine birds.
Avian Influenza is caused by an orthomyxovirus, or influenza virus and can survive for considerable lengths of time outside of the host and birds are infected through contact with other birds, mechanical vectors such as vehicles and equipment and personnel travelling between farms, markets and abattoirs.
Precautionary requirements include cleaning and disinfection of premises and the establishment of a Biosecurity barrier to help prevent spread of disease is essential.
For more information on biosecurity see the links below