July '07 - France confirmed H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

[HenryN]

France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans
<!-- AN5.0 article -->PARIS, July 3 (Reuters) - The French farm ministry said on Tuesday it suspects that three swans found dead in eastern France may have been killed by the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.
"The first results show a suspicion of bird flu. These tests are in the process of being confirmed at the reference laboratory of the French food safety agency AFSSA (...) to determine whether it was the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain," the ministry said in a statement.
It added it had already put protection measures in place in the surrounding area.

http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAB003298.htm

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

Translation:

http://www.agriculture.gouv.fr/spip/leministere.leministrelecabinet.communiquesdepresse_a7131.html

France: measurements of precaution within the framework of a suspicion on three cyg Installation of measurements of precaution within the framework of an aviary suspicion of Influenza on three swans Paris, 3.07.2007
Three young swans were found died on a pond of the commune of Assenoncourt (department of the Moselle). The results of the first analyses received this day make state of an aviary suspicion of influenza. These analyses are in the course of confirmation at the national laboratory of reference of the AFSSA of Ploufragan in order to determine if it acts of an infection by the stock of highly pathogenic virus H5N1 (HP). In accordance with the European device of management of the aviary case of influenza in wild fauna, this suspicion results in taking measures of precaution in the zone concerned
*: - Delimitation of a control field in a ray from approximately 1 km around the pond
*: O Reinforcement of the monitoring of the mortality of the wild birds
O Containment of the captive birds and visits of veterinary surgeons to their holders
O Prohibition of gatherings of birds
O Prohibition of hunting for the birds
O Cats and dogs under control of their owners
- Delimitation of a zone of observation in a ray of approximately 15 km around the pond *:
O Reinforcement of the monitoring of the mortality of the wild birds
O Containment of the captive birds
O Prohibition of gatherings of birds
O Prohibition of hunting for the birds
The results of the laboratory of reference of the AFSSA, which will make it possible to confirm or cancel the assumption of virus H5N1 HP and thus to maintain or raise the device, should be known Thursday 5.07.07.
These measurements of prevention associated with the mobilization with the agricultural world must allow the protection of the French breedings.

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans
<!-- AN5.0 article -->(Adds background, details)
PARIS, July 3 (Reuters) - Three swans found dead in eastern France may have been killed by the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, the French Agriculture Ministry said on Tuesday.
"The first results show a suspicion of bird flu. These tests are in the process of being confirmed at the reference laboratory of the French food safety agency AFSSA (...) to determine whether it was the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain," the ministry said in a statement.
It had already put protection measures in place in the surrounding area and the results of the tests were expected by Thursday, it said.
France, Europe's biggest poultry producer, had increased its precautions against bird flu in June, saying the risk of the disease hitting the country had gone up after it was found in a number of wild birds in Germany.
The disease was also found in the Czech Republic last month.
Last year, some 13 European Union member states had confirmed cases of bird flu -- Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, France and Hungary.
In France the virus was found in more than 60 wild birds and at a farm with 11,000 turkeys. It had not been detected in the country since April 2006.
More than 30 countries have reported outbreaks in the past year, in most cases involving wild birds such as swans.
Globally, the H5N1 virus has killed nearly 200 people out of over 300 known cases, according to the World Health Organisation. None of the victims were from Europe.

http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03170416.htm

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/07030702/Qinghai_H5N1_France.html

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

Translated

http://www.chikungunya.net/

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=400 border=0><TBODY><FORM action=http://www.altavista.com/web/results method=get><TR><TD class=s bgColor=white>Aviary suspicion of influenza for three swans in the Moselle 03/07/07 aviary flu virus H5N1 highly pathogenic is suspected of being at the origin of the death of three swans found died on a pond of the commune of Assenoncourt (the Moselle), announced Tuesday in an official statement the ministry for the Agriculture, which set up "measurements of precaution". "the results of the first analyses received this day make state of an aviary suspicion of influenza. These analyses are in the course of confirmation at the national laboratory of reference of the AFSSA of Ploufragan in order to determine if it acts of an infection by the stock of highly pathogenic virus H5N1 ", indicates the official statement. The conclusions of the laboratory of reference of the French Agency of medical safety of the animals, "which will make it possible to confirm or to cancel the assumption of virus H5N1 HP and thus to maintain or raise the device, should be known Thursday", adds the ministry. The last cases of aviary influenza H5N1 on wild birds go up in spring 2006.
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=s><INPUT type=hidden value=0 name=kls> <INPUT type=hidden value=utf8 name=ienc>
</TD></TR></FORM></TBODY></TABLE>

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/mapcenter/map.aspx?TextLatitude=49.0374695046062&TextLongitude=6.66602685397196&TextAltitude=7&TextSelectedEntity=8546201&MapStyle=Comprehensive&MapSize=Medium&MapStyleSelectedIndex=0&searchTextMap=Assenoncourt&MapStylesList=Comprehensive&ZoomOnMapClickCheck=on&ResultsListbox=49.0374695046062%3B6.66602685397196%3B7%3B8546201%3BMoselle+%28second-order+administrative+division%29%2C+Lorraine%2C+France%3BMedium%3BComprehensive

[gsgs]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

updated map:

http://hawkeye00x00.awardspace.com/map/mapit.php?mapid=gsgseu1.xml

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/07...N1_France.html

Commentary

Qinghai H5N1 Suspected In France
Recombinomics Commentary
July 3, 2007

Three swans found dead in eastern France may have been killed by the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, the French Agriculture Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The first results show a suspicion of bird flu. These tests are in the process of being confirmed at the reference laboratory of the French food safety agency AFSSA

The above comments strongly suggest H5N1 has been detected in France. H5N1 in France was not unexpected. There have been confirmed outbreaks of H5N1 in wild birds in two regions of Germany (Bavaria and Saxony), as well as two farms in northern Czech Republic, as well as a swan in southern Czech Republic.

Sequence analysis of the H5N1 from outbreaks in Germany indicated the outbreaks were distinct, and the relationships to the H5N1 on the farms in the Czech Republic were also distinct. The reported differences in the four regions of Germany and the Czech Republic suggested that H5N1 in wild birds in western Europe was widespread.

The German isolates were most closely related to isolates from Tyva and Mongolia. One year ago, there were massive infections in these two regions, suggesting that H5N1 would migrate into Western Europe. Although there have been not reports of infections in western Europe for the past year, the recent outbreaks were largely in non-migratory birds at a time when wild bird migration is minimal.

These data strongly suggest that H5N1 has been circulation in Western Europe for the past year, but has not been detected by current surveillance.

The surveillance deficiencies have been evident since the fall of 2005 when H5N1 moved into the region. Although it was detected in Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, and Egypt in 2005, no country in western Europe reported H5N1 infections. After fatal cases in Turkey were confirmed in early 2006, countries in Western Europe began to report H5N1 in wild birds. Although over 700 wild bird H5N1 infections were report, no country in western Europe reported H5N1 in live wild birds.

The latest suspect infections in France as well as the confirmed H5N1 in June in Germany and the Czech Republic signal a need for an upgraded surveillance program that has increased sensitivity. It is likely that H5N1 is present in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, but the surveillance programs in most countries fail to detect the circulating H5N1.

.

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=556 border=0 valign="top"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=white> </TD><TD vAlign=top width=554><!-- start: main content --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left><INPUT onclick="javascript:this.disabled=true; doSubmit('Back');" type=button value=Back></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE summary=""><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Archive Number</TD><TD noWrap align=left>20070703.2116</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Published Date</TD><TD noWrap align=left>03-JUL-2007</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Subject</TD><TD noWrap align=left>PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (119): Germany, France, wild birds, susp.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
AVIAN INFLUENZA (119): GERMANY, FRANCE, WILD BIRDS, SUSPECTED***************************************** *****A ProMED-mail post<http://www.promedmail.org>ProMED-mail is a program of theInternational Society for Infectious Diseases<http://www.isid.org>[1]Date: Tue 3 Jul 2007Source: AFX News via Forbes [edited]<http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/07/03/afx3881561.html>H5N1 bird flu found in dead wild bird in Germany-----------------------------------------------------The Thuringian health ministry said a black-necked grebe found dead in Kelbra near Erfurt was infected with the H5N1 strain of aviation influenza, which is potentially lethal to humans.A 3 km [1.86 miles] security cordon has been installed around the site where the bird was found. Poultry must remain confined within that area and cats and dogs must be kept on leashes.This brings the number of dead wild birds found to be carrying the virus in Germany to 13 since last week [24-30 Jun 2007].--Communicated by:ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall******[2]Date: Tue 3 Jul 2007Source: Reuters alertnet [edited]<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03170416.htm>France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans--------------------------------------------A total of 3 swans found dead in eastern France may have been killed by the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, the French Agriculture Ministry said on Tuesday [3 Jul 2007]."The 1st results show a suspicion of bird flu. These tests are in the process of being confirmed at the reference laboratory of the French food safety agency AFSSA (...) to determine whether it was the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain," the ministry said in a statement. It had already put protection measures in place in the surrounding area and the results of the tests were expected by Thursday [5 Jul 2007], it said.France, Europe's biggest poultry producer, had increased its precautions against bird flu in June [2007], saying the risk of the disease hitting the country had gone up after it was found in a number of wild birds in Germany. The disease was also found in the Czech Republic last month [June 2007].Last year [2006], some 13 European Union member states had confirmed cases of bird flu: Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, France and Hungary.In France the virus was found in more than 60 wild birds and at a farm with 11 000 turkeys. It had not been detected in the country since April 2006.More than 30 countries have reported outbreaks in the past year, in most cases involving wild birds such as swans.Globally, the H5N1 virus has killed nearly 200 people out of over 300 known cases, according to the World Health Organisation. None of the victims were from Europe.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall[If the suspected swans (species?!) in France are confirmed as H5N1-infected, it will be interesting to obtain sequence data of the isolates (and the one from the German black-necked grebe; confirmed?) and compare them to the recent findings in wild birds in Germany and the Czech Republic. The 2 isolates obtained from infected mute swans from Nuremberg and Frohburg, Germany, and an isolate from an infected turkey farm in the Czech Republic, have been found, during the week of 24-30 Jun 2007, to be closely related by the reference labs in Germany and Britain (see details in 20070701.2104).(In posting 20070629.2090, item 1 included a report of the German news agency DPA, citing the spokesperson for the Friedrich Loeffler animal health institute (FLI) as saying: "an analysis of the viral DNA showed a 99.2 percent match between the Czech outbreak and the virus in dead swans in the German city of Nuremberg. Both samples were also very similar to viral DNA collected in Kuwait and sequenced in Weybridge, Britain." The said statement was also included in the commentary to posting 20070701.2104. We are grateful to Barbara Spraktes-Wilkins (Pandemic Influenza Coordinator, Ventura County Public Health, Oxnard, CA) for rightly reminding that influenza viruses are RNA viruses. Possibly, the German statement referred to the cDNA, for the sequencing process, by RNA reverse-transcribing).A map, showing the European regions found infected by H5N1 in wild birds from 1 Jan to 28 Jun 2007, is available at:<http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/adns/adns_maps_wb_2007.jpg>. The map does not include (yet) the mute swan found H5N1-infected in South Moravia (the Czech Republic), as officially reported to the OIE on 29 Jun 2007. - Mod.AS].</PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=556 border=0 valign="top"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=white></TD><TD vAlign=top width=554><!-- start: main content --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100&#37;" summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left><INPUT onclick="javascript:this.disabled=true; doSubmit('Back');" type=button value=Back></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE summary=""><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Archive Number</TD><TD noWrap align=left>20070703.2116</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Published Date</TD><TD noWrap align=left>03-JUL-2007</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Subject</TD><TD noWrap align=left>PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (119): Germany, France, wild birds, susp.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

AVIAN INFLUENZA (119): GERMANY, FRANCE, WILD BIRDS, SUSPECTED
[If the suspected swans (species?!) in France are confirmed as H5N1-infected, it will be interesting to obtain sequence data of the isolates (and the one from the German black-necked grebe; confirmed?) and compare them to the recent findings in wild birds in Germany and the Czech Republic. The 2 isolates obtained from infected mute swans from Nuremberg and Frohburg, Germany, and an isolate from an infected turkey farm in the Czech Republic, have been found, during the week of 24-30 Jun 2007, to be closely related by the reference labs in Germany and Britain (see details in 20070701.2104).(In posting 20070629.2090, item 1 included a report of the German news agency DPA, citing the spokesperson for the Friedrich Loeffler animal health institute (FLI) as saying: "an analysis of the viral DNA showed a 99.2 percent match between the Czech outbreak and the virus in dead swans in the German city of Nuremberg. Both samples were also very similar to viral DNA collected in Kuwait and sequenced in Weybridge, Britain." The said statement was also included in the commentary to posting 20070701.2104. We are grateful to Barbara Spraktes-Wilkins (Pandemic Influenza Coordinator, Ventura County Public Health, Oxnard, CA) for rightly reminding that influenza viruses are RNA viruses. Possibly, the German statement referred to the cDNA, for the sequencing process, by RNA reverse-transcribing).A map, showing the European regions found infected by H5N1 in wild birds from 1 Jan to 28 Jun 2007, is available at:<http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/adns/adns_maps_wb_2007.jpg>. The map does not include (yet) the mute swan found H5N1-infected in South Moravia (the Czech Republic), as officially reported to the OIE on 29 Jun 2007. - Mod.AS].






</PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

Although the consideration of sequence data by ProMed commentators is a step in right direction, the fact that none can interpret the data is unfortunate. Since ALL H5N1 west of China is the Qinghai strain, a common source designation with meaning beyond Qinghai clade 2.2 transported and transmitted by wild birds would requite identity above 99.9%, as was seen in Hungary / UK comparisons. The 99.2% and 99.5% identities show that the introductions were independent and introduced by wild birds, no matter how hard the ProMed commentators hope and dream for some trade/smuggling connection.

Now there are WILD BIRD outbreaks at FIVE distinct locations in THREE Western Euopean countries within TWO weeks of each other.

It is unclear why the commentators have the need to prove each day that they can't interpret the sequence data. There are MANY examples from last season, showing that 99.2% identity means INDEPENDENT introductions, and the isolates in Germany are closest to the isolates from Russian DEAD birds at Tyva (or adjacent Mongolia).

Moreover ALL H5N1 sequences at Genbank or Los Alamos are DNA sequences (no U's allowed). Obviously, neither the pandemic planner nor the ProMed commentators have EVER looked at the SEQUENCE database.

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=556 border=0 valign="top"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=white></TD><TD vAlign=top width=554><!-- start: main content --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100&#37;" summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left><INPUT onclick="javascript:this.disabled=true; doSubmit('Back');" type=button value=Back></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE summary=""><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Archive Number</TD><TD noWrap align=left>20070703.2116</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Published Date</TD><TD noWrap align=left>03-JUL-2007</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Subject</TD><TD noWrap align=left>PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (119): Germany, France, wild birds, susp.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

AVIAN INFLUENZA (119): GERMANY, FRANCE, WILD BIRDS, SUSPECTED

Both samples were also very similar to viral DNA collected in Kuwait and sequenced in Weybridge, Britain." The said statement was also included in the commentary to posting 20070701.2104. We are grateful to Barbara Spraktes-Wilkins (Pandemic Influenza Coordinator, Ventura County Public Health, Oxnard, A) for rightly reminding that influenza viruses are RNA viruses.Mod.AS].




</PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

Earth to ProMed:

Below is a SEQUENCE from an RNA H5N1 isolate. RNA has U's. DNA has T's. The SEQUENCE below from a HEALTHY teal has 0 U's, but many T's.

We know you can't walk the walk, but at least try to talk the talk:

LOCUS EF042624 1596 bp cRNA linear VRL 15-NOV-2006
DEFINITION Influenza A virus (A/teal/Egypt/14051-NAMRU3/2005(H5N1))
hemagglutinin (HA) gene, partial cds.
ACCESSION EF042624
VERSION EF042624.1 GI:117395044
KEYWORDS .
SOURCE Influenza A virus (A/teal/Egypt/14051-NAMRU3/2005(H5N1))
ORGANISM Influenza A virus (A/teal/Egypt/14051-NAMRU3/2005(H5N1))
Viruses; ssRNA negative-strand viruses; Orthomyxoviridae;
Influenzavirus A.
REFERENCE 1 (bases 1 to 1596)
AUTHORS Saad,M.D., Gamal-Eldein,M.A., Ahmed,L.S., Yingst,S.L., Parker,M.A.
and Monteville,M.R.
TITLE Possible Introduction of Avian Influenza H5N1 in Egypt by a
Migratory Bird
JOURNAL Unpublished
REFERENCE 2 (bases 1 to 1596)
AUTHORS Saad,M.D., Gamal-Eldein,M.A., Ahmed,L.S., Yingst,S.L., Parker,M.A.
and Monteville,M.R.
TITLE Direct Submission
JOURNAL Submitted (04-OCT-2006) Viral and Zoonotic Diseases Research
Program, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Extension of
Ramses Street, Nasr City, Cairo 11517, Egypt
FEATURES Location/Qualifiers
source 1..1596
/organism="Influenza A virus
(A/teal/Egypt/14051-NAMRU3/2005(H5N1))"
/mol_type="viral cRNA"
/strain="A/teal/Egypt/14051-NAMRU3/2005"
/serotype="H5N1"
/isolation_source="cloacal swab"
/specific_host="teal duck"
/db_xref="taxon:409944"
/segment="4"
/country="Egypt: Damietta governorate"
/collection_date="Dec-2005"
gene <1..>1596
/gene="HA"
CDS <1..>1596
/gene="HA"
/codon_start=3
/product="hemagglutinin"
/protein_id="ABK34513.1"
/db_xref="GI:117395045"
/translation="YHANNSTEQVDTIMEKNVTVTHAQDILEKTHNGKLCD LDGVKPL
ILRDCSVAGWLLGNPMCDEFLNVPEWSYIVEKINPANDLCYPGNFNDYEE LKHLLSRI
NHFEKIQIIPKSSWSDHEASSGVSSACPYQGRSSFFRNVVWLIKKDNAYP TIKRSYNN
TNQEDLLVLWGIHHPNDAAEQTRLYQNPTTYISVGTSTLNQRLVPKIATR SKVNGQSG
RMEFFWTILKPNDAINFESNGNFIAPENAYKIVKKGDSTIMKSELEYGNC NTKCQTPI
GAINSSMPFHNIHPLTIGECPKYVKSNRLVLATGLRNSPQGERRRKKRGL FGAIAGFI
EGGWQGMVDGWYGYHHSNEQGSGYAADKESTQKAIDGVTNKVNSIIDKMN TQFEAVGR
EFNNLERRIENLNKKMEDGFLDVWTYNAELLVLMENERTLDFHDSNVKNL YDKVRLQL
RDNAKELGNGCFEFYHRCDNECMESVRNGTYDYPQYSEEARLKREEISGV KLESIGTY
QILSIYSTVASSLALAIMVAGLS"
ORIGIN
1 gttaccatgc aaacaactcg acagagcagg ttgacacaat aatggaaaag aacgtcactg
61 ttacacacgc ccaagacata ctggaaaaga cacacaacgg gaaactctgc gatctagatg
121 gagtgaagcc tctaatttta agagattgta gtgtagctgg atggctcctc gggaacccaa
181 tgtgtgacga attcctcaat gtgccggaat ggtcttacat agtggagaag atcaatccag
241 ccaatgacct ctgttaccca gggaatttca acgactatga agaactgaaa cacctattga
301 gcagaataaa ccattttgag aaaattcaga tcatccccaa aagttcttgg tcagatcatg
361 aagcctcatc aggggtgagc tcagcatgtc cataccaggg aaggtcctcc ttttttagaa
421 atgtggtatg gcttatcaaa aaggacaatg crtacccaac aataaagaga agttacaata
481 ataccaacca agaagatctt ttggtactgt gggggattca ccatccaaat gatgcggcag
541 agcagacaag gctctatcaa aacccaacta cctatatttc cgttgggaca tcaacactaa
601 accagagatt agtaccaaaa atagctacta gatctaaggt aaacgggcaa agtggaagga
661 tggagttctt ttggacaatt ttaaaaccga atgatgcaat aaactttgag agtaatggaa
721 atttcattgc tccagaaaat gcatacaaaa ttgtcaagaa aggggactca acaattatga
781 aaagtgagtt ggaatatggt aactgcaaca ccaagtgtca aactccaata ggggcgataa
841 actctagtat gccattccac aacatccacc ctctcaccat cggggaatgc cccaaatatg
901 tgaaatcaaa cagattagtc cttgctactg ggctcagaaa cagccctcaa ggagagagaa
961 gaagaaaaaa gagaggacta tttggagcta tagcaggttt tatagaggga ggatggcagg
1021 gaatggtaga tggttggtat gggtaccacc atagcaacga gcaggggagt gggtacgctg
1081 cagacaaaga atccactcaa aaggcaatag atggagtcac caataaggtc aactcgatca
1141 ttgacaaaat gaacactcag tttgaggctg ttggaaggga atttaataac ttagaaagga
1201 gaatagaaaa tttaaacaag aagatggaag acggattcct agatgtctgg acttataatg
1261 ctgaacttct ggttctcatg gaaaatgaga gaactctaga ctttcatgac tcaaatgtca
1321 agaaccttta cgacaaggtc cgactacagc ttagggataa tgcaaaggag cttggtaacg
1381 gttgtttcga gttctatcac agatgtgata atgaatgtat ggaaagtgta agaaacggaa
1441 cgtatgacta cccgcagtat tcagaagaag caagattaaa aagagaggaa ataagtggag
1501 taaaattgga atcaatagga acttaccaaa tactgtcaat ttattcaaca gtggcgagct
1561 ccctagcact ggcaatcatg gtggctggtc tatctt

[HenryN]

Re: France suspects H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

Aviary suspicion of Influenza on three swans in the Moselle Paris, 03.07.2007 Three young swans were found died on a pond of the commune of Assenoncourt (department of the Moselle). The results of the first analyses received this day make state of an aviary suspicion of influenza. These analyses are in the course of confirmation at the national laboratory of reference of the AFSSA of Ploufragan in order to determine if it acts of an infection by the stock of highly pathogenic virus H5N1 (HP). In accordance with the European device of management of the aviary case of influenza in wild fauna, this suspicion results in taking measures of precaution in the zone concerned: Delimitation of a control field in a ray from approximately 1 km around the pond (Reinforcement of the monitoring of the mortality of the wild birds, containment of the captive birds and visits of veterinary surgeons to their holders, prohibition of gatherings of birds and hunting for the birds, cats and dogs must remain under control of their owners) Delimitation of a zone of observation in a ray of approximately 15 km around the pond where the monitoring of the mortality of the wild birds is also reinforced. The captive birds must be confined. The gatherings of birds and their hunting are prohibited. The results of the laboratory of reference of the AFSSA, which will make it possible to confirm or cancel the assumption of virus H5N1 HP and thus to maintain or raise the device, should be known Thursday 5.juillet.07. Consult the press release Aviary Influenza: France reinforces its device Paris, the 24.06.2007 The European Commission announced the discovery in the Land of Bavaria (southern of Germany) of two swans contaminated by the highly pathogenic aviary influenza (virus H5N1). In accordance with the device of prevention and monitoring established in France by the decree of February 5, 2007, the description of the contamination of the wild avifauna in a country close to France leads Michel Barnier, Minister for Agriculture and Fishing, to pass from the level of negligible risk "2" on the level of "moderate" risk. In complement of existing measurements of biosecurity, the passage on this level of higher risk induced the setting in?uvre, by the holders of poultries and birds of approval of the ecological zones at the particular risk (1), of the following additional provisions: - the birds must be confined or protected by nets, or alternative measurements of biosecurity; - the gatherings of birds and the competitions of pigeons, at the beginning or flying over these zones, are prohibited; - the birds held in these zones cannot take part in gatherings organized on the remainder of the territory. These provisions constitute a reinforcement of measurements of precaution and monitoring. No aviary case of influenza with virus H5N1 was noted on the own territory in 2007. (1) Listed with appendix 5 of the decree of February 5, 2007. Consult the press release (Chart of the ecological zones at the particular risk listed with appendix 5 of the decree of February 5, 2007).

http://www.agriculture.gouv.fr/spip/actualites_a5370.html

[FrenchieGirl]

FRANCE - H5N1 Confirmed in swans in Moselle

FRANCE - H5N1 Confirmed in swans in Moselle

The French Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that the three swans found in the village of Assenoncourt, in the Moselle Department, are positive for H5N1. http://www.agriculture.gouv.fr/spip/...sse_a7135.html

Therefore the protection measures implemented two days ago are maintained, and the level of alert is increased from "moderate" to "high".

[Sally Furniss]

Re: France confirmed H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

French, German Bird Flu Outbreaks May Signal More Infections

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601202&sid=aaKVabYmYjRc&refer=healthcare

By Nicholas Comfort and Angela Cullen

July 5 (Bloomberg) -- France found three wild swans that died this week had avian flu, suggesting the lethal H5N1 virus is spreading again across Europe.

At least five other European nations have reported avian influenza outbreaks this year, according to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health. A strain that killed 12 wild birds in Germany in the past month is almost identical to that found earlier this year in the Czech Republic, Germany's Friedrich Loeffler center for animal health said.

This year's outbreaks are thought to have spread through the migration of infected water birds. They leave traces of the virus on the surface water when they touch down on lakes, in turn infecting less transient local birds. Dead swans are often the first sign of an outbreak, said Albert Osterhaus, director of New-Flu Bird, a European project based in the Netherlands bringing together ornithologists and virologists.

``They are the sentinels of the disease'' and may indicate that more avian infections will follow, Osterhaus said in a telephone interview.

World health officials are tracking the spread of H5N1 in birds in the event that the virus adapts to become more easily transmitted among people, sparking a pandemic. Since 2003, the virus has sickened 317 people in a dozen countries, killing 191 of them, according to the World Health Organization in Geneva.

France's agriculture ministry today confirmed that three swans found dead on a lake in the Moselle region, which borders Germany, died of bird flu.

Germany's Friedrich Loeffler center is testing the carcass of another bird found in the province of Thuringia as well as soil samples that could tie the deaths to the strain of H5N1 virus found in other countries.

In Thuringia, authorities have sealed off a 3-kilometer (2- mile) area around the find. A further 10 kilometers function as an observation perimeter. Thuringian authorities have ordered all poultry within the area to be kept in their pens as a precaution.

Poultry in France's Moselle region also has been confined and local wildlife is under observation.

To contact the reporters on this story: Nicholas Comfort in Frankfurt at ncomfort@bloomberg.net ; Angela Cullen in Frankfurt at acullen8@bloomberg.net

[HenryN]

Re: France confirmed H5N1 bird flu virus in swans

French, German Bird Flu Outbreaks May Signal More Infections

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601202&sid=aaKVabYmYjRc&refer=healthcare

By Nicholas Comfort and Angela Cullen

A strain that killed 12 wild birds in Germany in the past month is almost identical to that found earlier this year in the Czech Republic, Germany's Friedrich Loeffler center for animal health said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Nicholas Comfort in Frankfurt at ncomfort@bloomberg.net ; Angela Cullen in Frankfurt at acullen8@bloomberg.net

Wrong. They said it was 99.2% which is NOT almost identical. 99.9% is almost identical. 99.2% is Qinghai. FLI said the Nuremberg isolates were like Tyva/Mongolia

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/07010701/H5N1_WB_Germany_Tyva.html