Announcement

**HenryN** · November 14, 2007, 04:32 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Also at

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/15/2091242.htm?section=justin

**HenryN** · November 14, 2007, 07:17 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>50,000 Birds Culled in Al-Kharj Farm
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD>JEDDAH, 15 November 2007 ? Saudi Arabia?s Agriculture Ministry announced yesterday that it had culled 50,000 birds after a deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected at a poultry farm in Al-Kharj, 150 kms south of Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The ministry said tests were carried out after 1,500 birds died in the farm, which had a total of 50,000 birds. The ministry learned of the deaths on Monday. ?All of the birds at the farm were subsequently culled and the area disinfected, with measures taken to ensure other farms in the area were not affected,? SPA quoted the ministry as saying.
It said no human cases of bird flu had been found and an investigation was taking place to determine the origin of the illness. Health and municipal authorities in Al-Kharj have taken steps to ensure that the individuals dealing with the birds are not affected.
The ministry has called upon poultry farmers to strictly implement safety regulations. It also called on the public to inform authorities about suspected bird flu cases by contacting 01-403-0911.
It also advised the public not to hunt migratory birds. The ministry said there was no danger in consuming chicken produced in the Kingdom as local producers follow safety regulations. The Kingdom banned all live poultry imports after bird flu was last detected in Saudi Arabia in March.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Arab News

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=103560&d=15&m=11&y=2007

Established in 1975, the Saudi-based Arab News is the Middle East’s newspaper of record and the biggest English language daily in the Kingdom.

**HenryN** · November 14, 2007, 10:21 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Commentary at

H5N1 in Saudi Arabia

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11140702/H5N1_Saudi.html

Recombinomics Commentary

**HenryN** · November 14, 2007, 10:29 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

AVIAN INFLUENZA (171): SAUDI ARABIA, UK (ENGLAND)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

In this update:
[1] Saudi Arabia
[2] UK (England, Suffolk)
[3] UK (England, Suffolk) - wild birds

******
[1] Saudi Arabia
Date: Wed 14 Nov 2007
Source: AFP via Alarabiya [edited]
<http://www.alarabiya.net:80/articles/2007/11/14/41673.html>

The lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected at a poultry
farm in Saudi Arabia, and 50 000 birds have been culled, the
agriculture ministry announced on Wednesday [14 Nov 2007].

It said tests were carried out after 1500 birds died in a farm of the
Al-Kharj region, 150 km (90 miles) south of Riyadh.

All the birds on the farm were subsequently culled and the area
disinfected, with measures taken to ensure other farms in the area
were not affected, the ministry said in a statement carried by the
official SPA news agency.

It said no human case has been found and an investigation was taking
place to determine the origin of the illness.

The kingdom banned all live poultry imports after bird flu was last
detected in Saudi Arabia in March 2007. In April 2007, neighboring
Kuwait culled 1.7 million birds after the strain was found, but there
were no reports of human cases.

The H5N1 strain 1st emerged in Asia in 2003 and has caused some 205
deaths in humans, with Indonesia and Viet Nam among the worst hit
countries, according to World Health Organization figures.

--
Communicated by:
Nati Elkin
<http://poultrymed.com/Poultry/index.asp>
<nati@poultrymed.com>

******
[2] UK (England, Suffolk)
Date: Wed 14 Nov 2007
Source: Farmers Guardian [edited]
<http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=14320>

All poultry on 4 further premises are to be culled as "dangerous
contacts," due to possible links with the Suffolk farm where the H5N1
strain of avian flu has been found in turkeys.

The infected premise, Redgrave Park Farm near Diss, is part of a
network of farms under the same ownership. The concern is that
workers may have moved between the farms after the infection occurred
but before it was discovered, potentially spreading the virus.

Disease has not been confirmed on any of the 4 premises, which all
lie within the existing Restricted Zone, but Defra said the poultry
were being culled as a precautionary measure. It said the action was
in line with its contingency plans and took into account "the level
of assessed risk at this early stage in the outbreak."

Acting chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg said: "This is a
precautionary measure taken to prevent any potential spread of the
disease. I must stress again that poultry keepers in the area must be
extremely vigilant, practice the highest levels of biosecurity and
report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health office."

The H5N1 strain is similar to that found in Germany and the Czech
Republic during the summer [2007]. Mr Landeg said yesterday [13 Nov
2007] that the most likely cause of the outbreak was possible contact
between the turkeys, which were free range, and migrating birds,
which may have visited a nearby lake. A full epidemiological
investigation into the source of the outbreak is underway.

Some general licenses to address immediate welfare issues in the area
covered by the zones were being issued on Wednesday [14 Nov 2007],
Defra said.

Movement restrictions apply in the Protection, Surveillance and
Restricted Zones. But it has been decided today [14 Nov 2007] to
allow some low-risk movements under general license, including the
movement of poultry to slaughter from outside the Surveillance Zone
to inside and the movement of table eggs to designated packing
centres for distribution.

In addition, the movement of day-old chicks out of the Surveillance
Zone may be permitted under specific license from Animal Health.

The national ban on bird gatherings remains in place.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

******
[3] UK (England, Suffolk) - wild birds
Date: Tue 13 Nov 2007
Source: New Scientist [edited]
<http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12915-uk-bird-flu-outbreak-confirmed-as-h
5n1.html>

The outbreak of bird flu killing turkeys at a UK farm has been
confirmed to be the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus that has been moving
across Eurasia and has so far killed 206 people, mainly in Asia. It
is only the 2nd outbreak of the virus in poultry in the UK.

Staff at Redgrave Park farm, near the town of Diss in Suffolk, found
on Sunday [11 Nov 2007] morning that 60 turkeys out of a flock of
1000 had died overnight.

Turkeys are exceptionally sensitive to H5N1, and the UK's Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed the
outbreak as H5N1 on Tuesday [13 Nov 2007] afternoon. All 5000 birds
on the farm have now been destroyed.

The UK's 1st outbreak of H5N1 in poultry, in Norfolk in February
2007, is thought to have come from Hungary in imported turkey meat.
But Redgrave Park is said to have received no deliveries that could
have brought in infected poultry for 4 weeks. Scientists point out
that enough H5N1 to infect turkeys could be brought into a barn by
someone who has walked in infected bird droppings.

The source of the virus might be clearer when its genetic sequence is
determined, as this will show which other viruses it is most closely
related to. "The initial sequence data suggest that it's closely
related to outbreaks in the Czech Republic and Germany," said the
UK's acting chief veterinary officer, Fred Landeg. This "does suggest
a possible wild bird source," he added.

H5N1 was found this summer [2007] in dead wild birds in Germany,
France and the Czech Republic. This strain matched the viruses found
in poultry outbreaks in Germany.

Redgrave Park farm is located very close to a large ornamental lake
used by wild birds, and is 4 km from a wetlands nature reserve.

The reserve, England's largest remaining river fen, is
internationally protected under the RAMSAR treaty on wetlands and
home to several endangered species. It also harbors several species
of dabbling duck, which would have flown into the area from breeding
grounds in Siberia over the past 2 months.

Autumn is when the ducks, which can carry H5N1 with no symptoms, are
most likely to be carrying bird flu. The UK's 1st outbreak was also
near a wetland reserve. Domestic ducks can also harbor the virus
without showing signs.

However H5N1 got into the area, swans and birds of prey in the
wetlands, which die of the virus, could now be at risk.

[Byline: Debora MacKenzie]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[Checking the lake birds for virus would provide useful support to a
wild bird source; the same is true of other backyard birds in the
area. But it is early, and investigations have barely started.

Evidence of infection in other flocks in the area is expected,
especially in those with access to water bodies (ponds, streams,
lakes). It is unlikely to be a single carrier migratory duck shedding
virus.

306 HPAI cases in wild birds have been notified by Member States to
ADNS in 2007 as of 13 Nov 2007: 298 from Germany, 7 from France and
one from the Czech Republic. For their chronology and species
distribution, see
<http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/adns/adns_wildbirds2007.pdf>.

It will be interesting to obtain data on the steps undertaken in the
UK to monitor H5N1 in wild birds as well as the surveillance
undertaken -- if any -- in domestic water-birds (geese and ducks).

A comprehensive guide to the structure of turkey and geese production
in the UK, published by DEFRA in February 2007, is available at
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/poultry/pdfs/turkey-geese-report.pdf>.
- Mods.MHJ/AS]

[see also:
Avian influenza (72): Saudi Arabia 20070416.1264
Avian influenza (64): Saudi Arabia, OIE 20070403.1127
Avian influenza (58): Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia 20070322.1008
Avian influenza (169): UK (England), turkeys, H5N1... 20071113.3686
Avian influenza (168): UK (England), turkeys, H5 20071112.3674
Avian influenza (90) - UK (Wales): LPAI H7N2, epid... 20070527.1709
Avian influenza (89) - UK (Wales): LPAI H7N2, 2nd ... 20070526.1692
Avian influenza (34): UK (England), Hungary, Indon... 20070215.0572
Avian influenza (33): UK-Hungary virus sequence 20070213.0543
Avian influenza (27): UK (England) 20070207.0477
Avian influenza (24): UK (England), turkeys H5N1 20070203.0432
Avian influenza (22): UK 20070202.0424
Avian influenza (23): UK (England), turkeys H5 20070202.0427
2006
----
Avian influenza - Eurasia (39): Saudi Arabia, falcon 20060201.0325]
.................................................. arn/msp/lm

**AlaskaDenise** · November 14, 2007, 10:45 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Originally posted by niman View Post

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11...5N1_Saudi.html

Commentary

H5N1 in Saudi Arabia
Recombinomics Commentary
November 14, 2007

Saudi Arabia?s Agriculture Ministry announced yesterday that it had culled 50,000 birds after a deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected at a poultry farm in Al-Kharj, 150 kms south of Riyadh

tests were carried out after 1,500 birds died in the farm, which had a total of 50,000 birds.

It also advised the public not to hunt migratory birds

The above comments on a new H5N1 outbreak in Saudi Arabia comes of the heals of an outbreak in Suffolk, England. Saudi Arabia previously reported H5N1 in ostriches in March, but this outbreak and culling are significantly larger.

In Europe, the recent outbreaks, beginning over the summer in Germany and the Czech Republic, involve a sub-clade of the Qinghai strain that is closely related to the Tvva/Mongolia isolates linked to a massive wild bird outbreak in the spring/summer of 2006.

Although there were no reports of this sub-clade for a year, it generated headlines over the summer in Germany when hundreds of wild birds tested positive for a closely related H5N1. The detection in the summer, when wild bird migration was minimal, strongly suggested that the strain had become endemic in the wild bird population in Europe.

The recent outbreak in England in free range turkeys suggests that is version of H5N1 is circulating over a wide region.

Details of the H5N1 in Saudi Arabia, including sequence information would be useful.

.

**HenryN** · November 15, 2007, 07:43 AM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Saudi Arabia: 50,000 birds culled after deadly bird flu strain found

Riyadh, 15 Nov. (AKI) - The authorities in Saudi Arabia have culled 50,000 birds at a poultry farm near the capital Riyadh after the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected there, according to Saudi media reports on Thursday.

The Saudi agriculture ministry was quoted by the Saudi News Agency as saying that the tests were carried out on the birds after 1,500 of them died on the farm earlier this week. The farm is located al-Kharj, 150 kilometres south of Riyadh.

The ministry also advised the public not to hunt migratory birds. However did not say how the birds became infected with the deadly strain of bird flu.

In March, the Saudi authorities detected the deadly H5N1 strain in peacocks, turkeys, ostriches and parrots at a house in the eastern Saudi Arabia and that an unspecified number of birds in the area had been culled.

In February, Saudi Arabia lifted bans going back to 2004 on poultry imports from 42 countries.

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**HenryN** · November 15, 2007, 04:08 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

<TABLE cellSpacing=8><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>50,000 broilers culled </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle> JEDDAH
Bird flu hits Saudi farm, no human case reported

Saudi Arabia?s Agriculture Ministry announced that it had culled 50,000 birds after a deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected at a poultry farm in Al Kharj, 150 kms south of Riyadh, The Saudi Gazette reports.
The ministry said tests were carried out after 1,500 birds died in the farm, which had a total of 51,500 birds.
The ministry learned of the deaths on Monday. ?All of the birds at the farm were culled and the area was disinfected.
Measures have been taken to ensure that other farms in the area were not affected,? the ministry said in a statement.
It said no human cases of bird flu had been reported and investigation continued to determine the origin of the illness.
Health and municipal authorities in Al Kharj have taken steps to ensure that the individuals dealing with the birds are not affected.
The ministry has called on poultry farmers to strictly implement safety regulations. It also called on the public to inform the authorities about suspected bird flu cases on 014030911.
The ministry also advised the public not to hunt migratory birds. It said there was no danger in consuming chicken produced in the kingdom as local producers were following safety regulations.
Saudi Arabia banned all live poultry imports after bird flu was last detected in March. In the following month, neighbouring Kuwait culled 1.7 million birds after the strain was found, but there were no reports of human cases. The H5N1 strain first emerged in Asia in 2003, and has caused some 205 deaths in humans, with Indonesia and Vietnam among the worst-hit, according to World Health Organisation figures.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://www.bahraintribune.com/ArticleDetail.asp?ArticleId=179179&CategoryId=2

**Coleman** · November 15, 2007, 04:40 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Strange .... the broilers looks like swans.

Is that a archive picture from anywhere else??

**Blue** · November 15, 2007, 05:00 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

They are killing swans? Why would you even cage them? Let them go.

**Coleman** · November 15, 2007, 05:43 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

I aggree with You. Op. cit. http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...242#post109242

**AlaskaDenise** · November 15, 2007, 11:43 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Workers in Al-Kharj Test Negative for Bird Flu
Arab News</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD>RIYADH, 16 November 2007 ? Poultry workers, who recently came into contact with birds carrying the bird flu virus in Al-Kharj, 150 kilometers south of Riyadh, tested negative to the virus, the Ministry of Health recently announced in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

The ministry also added that all of the 50,000 birds at the farm were culled and that the measures were taken after the death of 1,500 birds at the farm caused by the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also investigating the source of the disease and has taken steps to guarantee that the disease does not affect other farms in the area.

The ministry has also called upon poultry farmers to strictly implement safety regulations. The Kingdom had banned all live poultry imports after bird flu was last detected in at a farm in the Eastern Province.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

.

**Gert van der Hoek** · November 16, 2007, 04:37 AM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Another 90,000 chicken die of bird flu in Riyadh

Health 11/16/2007

RIYADH, Nov 16 (KUNA) -- Some 90,000 chicken have died of bird flu at a poultry farm in Muzahmiya City, western Riyadh, according to the Agriculture Ministry on Friday.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Fahad Balghunayim said in a press statement that teams were formed to take all required measures to prevent the spread of the disease to other farms in the area.

He said this posed no threat to poultry products in the kingdom, which he said were under constant surveillance and inspection, adding that like in all other countries, such cases appeared and were brought under control.

The Agriculture Ministry had announced yesterday the culling of 50,000 chicken in a poultry farm in Riyadh's Kharj district after 1,500 chicken tested positive for bird flu.

The ministry said all humans that came in contact with the chicken tested negative for the disease, and called on all citizens and expatriates to report any strange cases of death among birds. (e

KUNA : Another 90,000 chicken die of bird flu in Riyadh - Health - 16/11/2007

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1857715&Language=en

**HenryN** · November 16, 2007, 04:52 AM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Commentary at

H5N1 Spread in Saudi Arabia

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11160701/H5N1_Saudi_Spread.html

Recombinomics Commentary

**yielddude** · November 16, 2007, 01:24 PM

Re: Lethal bird flu found in Saudi poultry farm

Chickens Die At 2 Saudi Farms After Bird Flu Outbreak -AFPLast update: 11/16/2007 1:16:33 PMRIYADH (AFP)--Around 90,000 chickens died at two farms in Saudi Arabia following a bird flu outbreak, Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghnaim was quoted as saying Friday. Balghnaim did not confirm that bird flu was the cause of death. But the deaths occurred one day after his ministry announced that 50,000 birds were culled at a poultry farm in Al-Kharj, 80 kilometres south of Riyad, after the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected there. The minister said around 50,000 chickens died in a farm in al-Mazahmiyah, about 80 kilometres west of the capital, and another 40,000 died at a nearby farm, local newspapers reported. Saudi Arabia banned all live poulty imports after bird flu was last detected in the kingdom in March. In April, neighboring Kuwait culled 1.7 million birds after the strain was found. There are no reports of the disease spreading to humans in either country. (END) Dow Jones NewswiresNovember 16, 2007 13:16 ET (18:16 GMT)

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdameritrade-com/html-story.asp?guid={de1525ed-135c-4ce3-8354-7f8bb7d80068}

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Saudi Arabia reports lethal bird flu found in poultry farm

Saudi Arabia reports lethal bird flu found in poultry farm

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