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Roundup: Myanmar experiences bird flu H5N1 re-strike along with influenza A/H1N1
Saturday, March 06, 2010 5:01 AM
YANGON, Mar. 6, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Myanmar is experiencing re-strike by bird flu H5N1, detecting more such cases in northwestern Sagaing division this month with some chickens suspected of dying of virulent avian influenza in a poultry farm in Yinmapin township early this week.
It was the third H5N1 case exposed since the avian influenza recurred in Myanmar last month, nearly two years after the country was claimed free from the disease.
The unusual death of chickens were proved to have been caused by highly pathogenic avian Influenza (HPAI) after laboratory tests conducted in Yangon and Mandalay, according to Saturday's official report.
The findings have been further reported to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Animal Health Organization (OIE).
The authorities have culled chickens and destroyed eggs bred in the farm as its control measures.
According to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department ( LBVD), the first case in the bird flu recurrence this year occurred in Yangon's Mayangong township and the second in Mingaladon township both in the same February.
Dealing with the first case in Mayangong township, unusual deaths of some chickens were found in a farm where 2,500 chickens were bred and the suspected deaths were proved to have been caused by the HPAI after experiment.
As for the second case in Mingaladon township, two domestically- bred chickens died of virulent avian influenza in a poultry farm and were later confirmed with carrying the virus after laboratory test.
The authorities took control measures by culling hundreds of similar chickens, some ducks and eggs, banning sale of chickens and eggs in six bazaars, 7 km around the poultry farm, where bird flu recurred to prevent the spread of the disease.
People have also been constantly urged to step up bio-security measures, change of livestock breeding system, avoidance of illegal import, transport and trading of chickens and its products, and prompt report of suspected bird flu case.
In April 2008, nearly two years before the bird flu struck Myanmar for the second round, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) declared Myanmar as a bird-flu-free country three months after the country was proved that there was no residual bird flu virus remained over the period since January of that year.
From February 2006 until December 2007, there were numerous outbreaks of the avian influenza in Myanmar covering 25 townships of six states and divisions.
All of the occurrences were blamed for infecting from abroad especially that the virus was carried into the country by migratory birds from the cold regions in the world infecting local birds, according to the LBVD.
Myanmar reported outbreak of the avian influenza in the country for the first round in some poultry farms in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions in early 2006, followed by those in Yangon division in early 2007, in Mon state's Thanbyuzayat and western Bago division' s Letpadan in July and in eastern Bago division's Thanatpin and in Yangon division's Hmawby in October the same year.
Despite the declaration as a bird-flu-free country, the Myanmar livestock authorities continued to call on the country's people to exercise a long-term precaution against the deadly H5N1 bird flu.
Meanwhile, rapid and widespread infection rate of new influenza A/H1N1 in Myanmar, especially since the beginning of this year also, has prompted control and prevention measures in the country with the World Health Organization (WHO) offering to vaccinate over 4 million Myanmar population free of charge.
The A/H1N1 influenza has also struck across Myanmar from Chin state's Tiddim township and Shan state's Kyaukme to Yangon division's six townships of Bahan, Tamway, Dagon Myothit (north and east), Shwepyita, Hlaingtharya and Hmawby in merely two months.
According to a compiled statistical report of local media, a total of 126 people were infected with new influenza A/H1N1 in Myanmar as of Feb. 20 this year since the outbreak of the disease in the country in June last year.
In 2009, 69 people in Myanmar contracted with A/H1N1, while in the first two months of 2010, another 57 were victimized.
However, no flu death cases were reported in the country.
In the wake of the status, the heath department has urged the people to follow the preventive measures outlined against the virus in order to avoid the spread of virus in the public and to take part in the campaign to prevent the disease.
The authorities also advised all private clinics in the country to report or transfer all flu- suspected patients, who returned from abroad, to local state-run hospitals or health departments for increased surveillance.
(Source: iStockAnalyst )
Saturday, March 06, 2010 5:01 AM
YANGON, Mar. 6, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Myanmar is experiencing re-strike by bird flu H5N1, detecting more such cases in northwestern Sagaing division this month with some chickens suspected of dying of virulent avian influenza in a poultry farm in Yinmapin township early this week.
It was the third H5N1 case exposed since the avian influenza recurred in Myanmar last month, nearly two years after the country was claimed free from the disease.
The unusual death of chickens were proved to have been caused by highly pathogenic avian Influenza (HPAI) after laboratory tests conducted in Yangon and Mandalay, according to Saturday's official report.
The findings have been further reported to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Animal Health Organization (OIE).
The authorities have culled chickens and destroyed eggs bred in the farm as its control measures.
According to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department ( LBVD), the first case in the bird flu recurrence this year occurred in Yangon's Mayangong township and the second in Mingaladon township both in the same February.
Dealing with the first case in Mayangong township, unusual deaths of some chickens were found in a farm where 2,500 chickens were bred and the suspected deaths were proved to have been caused by the HPAI after experiment.
As for the second case in Mingaladon township, two domestically- bred chickens died of virulent avian influenza in a poultry farm and were later confirmed with carrying the virus after laboratory test.
The authorities took control measures by culling hundreds of similar chickens, some ducks and eggs, banning sale of chickens and eggs in six bazaars, 7 km around the poultry farm, where bird flu recurred to prevent the spread of the disease.
People have also been constantly urged to step up bio-security measures, change of livestock breeding system, avoidance of illegal import, transport and trading of chickens and its products, and prompt report of suspected bird flu case.
In April 2008, nearly two years before the bird flu struck Myanmar for the second round, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) declared Myanmar as a bird-flu-free country three months after the country was proved that there was no residual bird flu virus remained over the period since January of that year.
From February 2006 until December 2007, there were numerous outbreaks of the avian influenza in Myanmar covering 25 townships of six states and divisions.
All of the occurrences were blamed for infecting from abroad especially that the virus was carried into the country by migratory birds from the cold regions in the world infecting local birds, according to the LBVD.
Myanmar reported outbreak of the avian influenza in the country for the first round in some poultry farms in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions in early 2006, followed by those in Yangon division in early 2007, in Mon state's Thanbyuzayat and western Bago division' s Letpadan in July and in eastern Bago division's Thanatpin and in Yangon division's Hmawby in October the same year.
Despite the declaration as a bird-flu-free country, the Myanmar livestock authorities continued to call on the country's people to exercise a long-term precaution against the deadly H5N1 bird flu.
Meanwhile, rapid and widespread infection rate of new influenza A/H1N1 in Myanmar, especially since the beginning of this year also, has prompted control and prevention measures in the country with the World Health Organization (WHO) offering to vaccinate over 4 million Myanmar population free of charge.
The A/H1N1 influenza has also struck across Myanmar from Chin state's Tiddim township and Shan state's Kyaukme to Yangon division's six townships of Bahan, Tamway, Dagon Myothit (north and east), Shwepyita, Hlaingtharya and Hmawby in merely two months.
According to a compiled statistical report of local media, a total of 126 people were infected with new influenza A/H1N1 in Myanmar as of Feb. 20 this year since the outbreak of the disease in the country in June last year.
In 2009, 69 people in Myanmar contracted with A/H1N1, while in the first two months of 2010, another 57 were victimized.
However, no flu death cases were reported in the country.
In the wake of the status, the heath department has urged the people to follow the preventive measures outlined against the virus in order to avoid the spread of virus in the public and to take part in the campaign to prevent the disease.
The authorities also advised all private clinics in the country to report or transfer all flu- suspected patients, who returned from abroad, to local state-run hospitals or health departments for increased surveillance.
(Source: iStockAnalyst )
Dr. Khin Myint Oo
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