Myanmar declares itself bird flu free

[Shiloh]

Source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...CB_gnIIHDeu2YA

Myanmar declares itself bird flu free

31 minutes ago

YANGON (AFP) ? Myanmar's military government on Sunday declared the country bird-flu free after three months without an outbreak of the deadly virus, state media reported.

The Myanmar-language Mirror newspaper said authorities had "sent the announcement of a bird flu-free Myanmar" to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, and supplied evidence.

The last known outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus was in eastern Shan State last November, the paper said, and was under control by January this year.

Myanmar last declared itself free of avian influenza in September 2006 after outbreaks in the central city of Mandalay.

But in early 2007, thousands more chickens, birds and ducks had to be killed after fresh outbreaks in and around the economic hub Yangon and in the central region of Bago.

In December, Myanmar and the World Health Organisation announced that a seven-year-old girl from Shan state had become the first confirmed human case of bird flu in the country.

She was hospitalised in late November before being discharged in December after showing signs of recovery.

Myanmar's military rulers normally operate behind a veil of secrecy, but the regime has won praise from the United Nations for its openness in tackling bird flu, despite its run-down health system.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 240 people worldwide, mostly in Southeast Asia, since late 2003, World Health Organisation figures show.

The strain is mainly an animal disease, but scientists fear it could mutate to easily jump from human to human, sparking a deadly global pandemic.

[Giuseppe]

Re: Myanmar declares itself bird flu free

[OIE Follow-up Report no. 4 - IOH]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Myanmar

Information received on 20/04/2008 from Mr U Maung Maung Nyunt, Director General, Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries , RANGOON, Myanmar

? Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 4 (Final report)
Start date 19/10/2007
Date of first confirmation of the event 19/10/2007
Report date 20/04/2008
Date submitted to OIE 20/04/2008
Date event resolved 21/04/2008
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 28/07/2007
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Suspicion, Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced), Necropsy
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports Immediate notification (24/10/2007)
Follow-up report No. 1 (23/11/2007)
Follow-up report No. 2 (29/12/2007)
Follow-up report No. 3 (01/03/2008)
Follow-up report No. 4 (20/04/2008)

? Outbreaks
There are no new outbreaks in this report

? Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive

? Epidemiological comments
Surveillance activities:

(a) Virological and serological surveillance
Virological and serological surveillances were conducted during the last three months (starting from January 2008) in the whole country.

The survey was set up with 95% confidence level at 10 % prevalence.

Surveillance was carried out within the 7-km-radius area around the outbreak.

5 % of chicken and duck farms of other States and Divisions were randomly chosen on the basis of high risk area such as high density poultry population, wet land, wet market and border routes.

A total of 6,961 serum samples from chickens and ducks were collected and tested by HA/HI test for antibodies against HPAI.

Antibodies against HPAI were not detected from those samples.

In addition, a total of 1,585 cloacal and tracheal swabs were collected. In all cloacal swabs, no detection of HPAI virus was observed by egg inoculation and RT-PCR method and all sera were free from antibody against HPAI virus.

(b) Active clinical surveillance
The active clinical surveillance has been conducted nationwide starting in January 2008.

A total poultry populations of 10,000 farms under surveillance covered backyard poultry, broilers, layers, breeder chickens, ducks, and poultry in wet markets and birds in wild life sanctuaries were examined and found clinically healthy.

No evidence of clinical HPAI infection was observed.

Conclusion
Three months have therefore elapsed without any evidence of HPAI H5N1 virus being detected since the last outbreak was closed in January 2008. In accordance with Article 2.7.12.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the above areas are no longer considered HPAI infected zone. Based on surveillance, Myanmar declares itself free from HPAI.

? Control measures
Measures applied Stamping out
Quarantine
Movement control inside the country
Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
Dipping / Spraying
Vaccination prohibited
No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied Control of wildlife reservoirs
Zoning


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http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=6985

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