Belgium: LP H5 bird flu reported in Flanders

[Gert van der Hoek]

Two cases of avian influenza in Flanders


Buggenhout / BOCHOLT - At poultry farms in Buggenhout and Bocholt avian influenza is confirmed. This was reported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and the AFSCA last night.

Only this morning disseminate AFSCA more news. It would be a mild infection to go.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture is a goose farm in Buggenhout and an ornamental poultry farm in Bocholt. Around the companies is a restricted zone set up within a radius of 1 km.

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleid=GTE24C7DJ

Two avian flu cases in Belgium

22 Dec., 2008

In two poultry farms in Belgium a low pathogenic variant of avian influenza is confirmed.

That was reported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture to the Marketing, Livestock, Meat and Eggs Authority .(PVE).

It is a company with free-range geese in Buggenhout where the H5 type is determined and trading of ornamental poultry in Bocholt, the type of virus is not known. Buggenhout is located 25 kilometers west of Mechelen and Bocholt is located near the Dutch border, some 10 kilometers southwest of Weert.

Around the restricted zones are established companies with a radius of 1 kilometer, but there were no other poultry farms in the areas. As far as we know, there are no recent contacts between these companies and the Netherlands.

http://www.agd.nl/1067285/Nieuws/Artikel/Twee-gevallen-vogelpest-in-Belgi.htm

Edit: Avian flu was found after routine tests.

http://www.boerenvee.nl/?page=nieuwsbericht&id=966

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Belgium: LP H5 bird flu reported in Flanders

Snip from an article:

The FAVV (= Food Authority in Belgium,ed) says it is not the dangerous H5N1 variant, but a less infectious type. The service says this is found about ten times a year in [routine] tests.

http://www.limburger.nl/article/20081223/ANPNIEUWS01/812230410/1030/RSS

[Shiloh]

Re: Belgium: LP H5 bird flu reported in Flanders

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...t_10550266.htm

Bird flu detected in Belgian farms
www.chinaview.cn 2008-12-24 05:06:18

BRUSSELS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Emergency measures have been taken after an outbreak of bird flu was detected in two farms in northern Belgium, Belgian media reported on Tuesday.

Control tests showed last Friday that some ducks and geese in a farm in Bocholt, which borders the Netherlands, were infected with the H5 bird flu virus. The same virus was also detected in a farm in Buggenhout in the province of East Flanders.

The H5 virus is not dangerous to human beings and is different from the H5N1 variant, which has killed more than 200 people since it surfaced in 2003.

The Belgian Federal Food Agency, which supervises the safety of the food chain, has ordered emergency measures to be taken in the two farms and surrounding areas.

Some 5,000 animals had to be slaughtered as a precautionary measure and all poultry within a radius of one kilometer of the farms must be kept indoors. Transport of poultry is forbidden for 21 days.

[Giuseppe]

Re: Belgium: LP H5 bird flu reported in Flanders

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Belgium (12/24/2008) [WAHID-OIE]

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Belgium

[Original PDF Document at LINK]

Information received on 23/12/2008 from Mr Luc Lengel?, Conseiller G?n?ral et Chef des Services V?t?rinaires , Service Public F?d?ral Sant? Publique, Service Politique Sanitaire, Animaux et V?g?taux , BRUXELLES, Belgium

? Summary

Report type Immediate notification
Start date 16/12/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 16/12/2008
Report date 23/12/2008
Date submitted to OIE 24/12/2008
Reason for notification New strain of a listed disease
Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N2
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country

? New outbreaks
Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 2

* Outbreak Location and Affected population - LIMBURG (Bocholt) :
Ornement birds, particularly 4,000 ducks and gooses, 1,000 hens and pheasants. Another unknown number of captive ornament birds are isoled and tested regularly.

* OOST-VLAANDEREN (Buggenhout) : Cases detected on free breeding gooses. No clinical sign.

Total animals affected: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
* Birds - 6480 - 2 - 0 - 6480 - 0

Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
* Birds - 0.03% - 0.00% - 0.00% - 100.00%

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

? Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological study is been held.

? Epidemiological comments
Low pathogenic avian influenza H5N2 is responsible for the outbreak in Bocholt.
For the outbreak in Buggenhout, the neuraminidase has not been identify yet, but we are certain that H5N1 is not responsible, but rather another H5 serotype (other than N1).
Avian influenza cases were detected as part of the routine monitoring for the screening of seropositive birds for avian influenza.
There is no commercial poultry farm located in a 1 km zone around the farm where the outbreak started.

? Control measures
Measures applied Stamping out
Quarantine
Movement control inside the country
Screening
Zoning
Vaccination prohibited
No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied No other measures

? Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Centre d?Etude et de Recherches V?t?rinaires et Agrochimiques-CERVA (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Birds - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - 16/12/2008 - Positive
* Birds - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - 19/12/2008 - Positive
* Birds - virus isolation - 22/12/2008 - Positive

? Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
-
------

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Belgium: LP H5 bird flu reported in Flanders

Presentation in English on the LP AI outbreak:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/committees/regulatory/scfcah/animal_health/presentations/ai_08012009_be.pdf