The first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by the H5N1 variant of the virus has been reported in Israel.

In an Immediate Notification dated 12 May to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Israeli veterinary authority reports one outbreak of the disease in the north of the country.

It started on 8 May on a turkey farm at Bezet in the region of Hazafon.

Of the 13,000 birds, clinical signs were observed in a pen of 2,000 10-week-old turkeys. Around 1,000 of them died and the remaining 12,000 birds on the farm were destroyed.

The source of infection has not been identified but the epidemiological investigation is on-going.

The usual control measure are being applied: stamping-out, quarantine, movement controls inside the country and zoning. There is no vaccination or treatment of affected animals.

The last outbreak of avian flu in Israel was in February 2015.