Bird flu outbreak in North Wales: H7N2

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales: not H5N1

Bird flu found in Wales but not H5N1

Thu May 24, 2007 1:53PM BST


LONDON (Reuters) - Bird flu has been detected in Wales, but not the feared H5N1 strain deadly to humans, Wales's chief veterinarian, Christianne Glossop, said on Thursday.

Earlier, the Welsh Assembly said it was investigating a suspected outbreak of bird disease at a farm in North Wales.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL24666620070524?rpc=401&

[vinny]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales: not H5N1

is this one any danger to humans if not i guess its a false alarm........?.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales: not H5N1

Bird flu case confirmed at farm

A 1km exclusion zone is now in force around the farm

A case of bird flu has been confirmed after the death of chickens at a farm in Conwy.

On Thursday, Wales's chief vet confirmed it was a H7N2 strain of bird flu, not the more virulent H5N1 strain of the virus.

The farm owners purchased 15 Rhode Island Red chickens two weeks ago but all have now died.

Two adults associated with the farm have shown flu symptoms and are being treated as a precaution.

Health officials are stressing that this is a low pathogenic strain and should not cause serious illness in humans.

Other samples from the farm are being tested and the source of the infection is being investigated.

The Wales and GB contingency plans have been implemented and a 1km exclusion zone is now in force around the property.


The small farm is north of the town of Corwen in Denbighshire but lies in the neighbouring county of Conwy.

Samples were first sent for testing on 17 May, before the H7 virus was confirmed.

The 15 new birds were brought onto the farm on 7 May and one bird died on 8 May. By 17 May, 10 of the birds had died.

The vet called in Animal Health, which used to be known as the State Veterinary service, which took samples.

Dr Christianne Glossop, Wales's chief vet, confirmed that the infected birds had died and that the other animals at the site - 30 other birds and two geese - were being slaughtered on Thursday.


The Welsh Assembly Government is investigating the case

"We have no reason to believe it is spreading rapidly," she said.

"While we are taking it very seriously, this is a low pathogenic avian flu," she said.

She said the source of infection was being investigated and urged "all poultry keepers to look out for any unusual signs".

In the exclusion zone, birds and bird products cannot be moved and bird gathering can only take place under licence.

At the moment, Dr Glossop added they were not currently asking bird keepers to bring their birds indoors.

Culled

Routine tests are being carried out on people who work on the farm and anybody else who has been in close contact.

There are various strains of the bird flu virus, with the H5N1 strain posing a risk to human health and other strains including the milder H7 strain.

This is the first confirmed case of bird flu in Wales.

In February, more than 160,000 birds were slaughtered on a Suffolk farm owned by the Bernard Matthews firm after an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Avian flu was found there on 3 February and 2,600 turkeys died of it - a further 159,000 birds were then culled.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6686995.stm

[HenryN]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales: not H5N1

is this one any danger to humans if not i guess its a false alarm........?.

H7 can be efficiently transmitted to humans, although there has only been one reported fatal case (from 2003 H7N7 outbreak in the Netherlands).

[hawkeye]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales.

Thoughts?

Scientists test for bird flu on Welsh farm
But experts at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency found that there was a 99.96% genetic similarity between the strain of the virus found at the plant and a strain that infected geese in southern Hungary last year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/birdflu/story/0,,2087250,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

<!--Article is not commented: 0 -->

[HenryN]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales.

Thoughts?

There are no current reported H7N2 outbreaks. This is once again wild birds (undetected by "surveillance" program, as happened last year with H7N3 in England).

[HenryN]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales: not H5N1

Bird flu case confirmed at farm
A case of bird flu has been confirmed after the death of chickens at a farm in Conwy.

On Thursday, Wales's chief vet confirmed it was a H7N2 strain of bird flu, not the more virulent H5N1 strain of the virus.
The farm owners purchased 15 Rhode Island Red chickens two weeks ago but all have now died.
Two adults associated with the farm have shown flu symptoms and are being treated as a precaution.
Health officials are stressing that this is a low pathogenic strain and should not cause serious illness in humans.
Other samples from the farm are being tested and the source of the infection is being investigated.
The Wales and GB contingency plans have been implemented and a 1km exclusion zone is now in force around the property.

<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=fact><!--So--><!--Eo--><!--Smva-->While we are taking it very seriously, this is a low pathogenic avian flu
<!--Emva--><!--Smva-->Dr Christianne Glossop, Wales's chief vet <!--Emva--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The small farm is north of the town of Corwen in Denbighshire but lies in the neighbouring county of Conwy.
Samples were first sent for testing on 17 May, before the H7 virus was confirmed.
The 15 new birds were brought onto the farm on 7 May and one bird died on 8 May. By 17 May, 10 of the birds had died.
The vet called in Animal Health, which used to be known as the State Veterinary service, which took samples.
Dr Christianne Glossop, Wales's chief vet, confirmed that the infected birds had died and that the other animals at the site - 30 other birds and two geese - were being slaughtered on Thursday.


"We have no reason to believe it is spreading rapidly," she said.
"While we are taking it very seriously, this is a low pathogenic avian flu," she said.
She said the source of infection was being investigated and urged "all poultry keepers to look out for any unusual signs".
In the exclusion zone, birds and bird products cannot be moved and bird gathering can only take place under licence.
At the moment, Dr Glossop added they were not currently asking bird keepers to bring their birds indoors.
Culled
Routine tests are being carried out on people who work on the farm and anybody else who has been in close contact.
North Wales AM Brynle Williams said: "I am appealing to all residents in Corwen and nearby to behave calmly, and to let government officials carry out their duties."
There are various strains of the bird flu virus, with the H5N1 strain posing a risk to human health and other strains including the milder H7 strain.
This is the first confirmed case of bird flu in Wales.
In February, more than 160,000 birds were slaughtered on a Suffolk farm owned by the Bernard Matthews firm after an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu.
Avian flu was found there on 3 February and 2,600 turkeys died of it - a further 159,000 birds were then culled.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/6686995.stm

[HenryN]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales: not H5N1

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=570 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Bird flu is back in UK

By George Reynolds
</TD></TR><TR><TD>24/05/2007- Bird flu is back in the UK, following the discovery of the virus on a farm in north Wales, Government officials confirmed today.

Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, confirmed it was H7N2, a less virulent relative of the HN51 strain.

The 30 remaining birds on the farm have been slaughtered today and the farm employees and any others who have come into close contact are undergoing testing.

Health officials said the low pathogenic strain should not cause serious illness in humans.

Wales and GB contingency plans have now implemented a 1km restriction zone around the infected premises, in which no birds or bird products can be moved. Bird gathering is being permitted under licence.

The Department of Environment, Planning and Countryside (EPC) has asked poultry keepers to observe strict biosecurity measures and report any suspicious signs of a notifiable avian disease to their local Animal Health Divisional Office.

Animal Health officers could not confirm whether the disease was caused by a migratory wild bird or agricultural imports.

In February, a discovery of the HN51 virus on a Suffolk farm, owned by Bernard Matthews, led to 159,000 birds being slaughtered. The strain was linked to a similar strain found in an outbreak in Hungary in January.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://www.foodqualitynews.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=76819

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales: not H5N1

Avian influenza (bird flu) confirmed in North Wales

Chief veterinary officer for Wales Dr Christianne Glossop has confirmed a case of avian influenza (bird flu) on a farm in North Wales.

The strain identified is H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza. The strain is different to the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain currently circulating in South East Asia, and in Europe last year.

Great Britain and Wales contingency plans have been activated and the UK?s chief vet Debby Reynolds, has formally confirmed the presence of the virus in the UK.

The farm has been placed under restriction and a 1km restriction zone has been placed around it. The 30 remaining birds on the farm are being slaughtered today.

The source of infection is being investigated.

Poultry keepers are being reminded to report any suspicious signs of a notifiable avian disease to their local Animal Health Divisional Office. Members of the National Poultry Register will receive updates by text.

Avian influenza is a disease of birds. It is very rare for humans to become infected and even then it is normally associated with close contact with infected birds. The risk to the health of the general public is very low.

Routine tests are being carried out on people who work on the farm and anybody else who has been in close contact.

Further information

https://www.wales.gov.uk/avianflu

see also the avian influenza pages on this website

Page last modified: 24 May 2007, 15:00 hrs

Page published: 24 May 2007

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/animal-0524.htm

[Mamabird]

Re: Suspected bird flu outbreak in North Wales.

Both H5 and H7 are notifiable diseases.

Isn't it interesting that the United States refuses to play by these rules?

A/guineafowl/NY/4649-18/2006(H7N2) does not appear to have been reported to anyone, much less the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

[vinny]

Re: Bird flu outbreak in North Wales: H7N2

i thought low path h7 wasnt a killer of birds.........?.

[vinny]

Re: Bird flu outbreak in North Wales: H7N2

Dr Simmons said there is no ongoing risk to the public, and added: "We do not anticipate this virus transmogrifying into the H5 strain, but it's not impossible."




is this possible..........?

http://www.24dash.com/news/47/21031/index.htm

[cartski]

Re: Bird flu outbreak in North Wales: H7N2

??? "transmogrifying" ???

Isn't that the infamous machine used by Calvin & Hobbes?

J.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Bird flu outbreak in North Wales: H7N2

Dr Simmons said there is no ongoing risk to the public, and added: "We do not anticipate this virus transmogrifying into the H5 strain, but it's not impossible."

is this possible..........?

http://www.24dash.com/news/47/21031/index.htm

Being no expert..! I would say "Low Path" virus can turn into "High Path" by going through a series of hosts:

H5 viruses of low pathogenicity may become highly pathogenic usually after circulating in poultry flocks for a time (Pennsylvania, Italy).

Because of this, and the high mortality that 'low-path' AI can cause in turkeys, OIE and other bodies are currently examining ways to improve control of LPAI.

See current OIE records for up to date information on distribution of HPAI. Morbidity is high but mortality usually relatively low, 5-50%.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/62/avian-influenzahighly-pathogenic-hpai-fowl-plague

"Transmogrifying" ..., that is one for the real experts!

[HenryN]

Re: Bird flu outbreak in North Wales: H7N2

Dr Simmons said there is no ongoing risk to the public, and added: "We do not anticipate this virus transmogrifying into the H5 strain, but it's not impossible."




is this possible..........?






http://www.24dash.com/news/47/21031/index.htm

No. Dr Simmons, if properly quoted, should consider another occupation.