Philippines Reports First H5 Outbreak; New Events in Laos, South Africa
PHILIPPINES, LAOS & SOUTH AFRICA - Agriculture officials in the Philippines reported the country's first highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza outbreak, which struck a commercial poultry farm in Pampanga province on Luzon, the country's largest island.
15 August 2017
2 minute read
By: According to CIDRAP, in other avian flu developments, Laos reported its first H5N1 outbreaks of 2017 and South Africa reported more H5N8 outbreaks, which have spread to some of its commercial ostrich farms.
Philippine outbreaks may have started in April
A report from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said the Philippine outbreak began on Jul 24, killing 36,485 of 190,000 birds. Culling was ordered as one of the outbreak response steps, which also included movement controls, quarantine, disinfection, and enhanced surveillance.
A report in the Manila Times, based on a media briefing with Emmanuel Pinol, the country's agriculture secretary, said the outbreak was confirmed in the city of San Luis and that six poultry farms were affected.
