H5N1 returns to Germany

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/ne...ns_to_Germany_

Bird flu returns to Germany
Health News

Oct 9, 2008, 15:16 GMT
Dresden, Germany - Bird flu has returned to Germany, with the H5N1 influenza virus breaking out among farm ducks in the eastern state of Saxony, officials said Thursday.

It was the first proven appearance of the disease this year in Germany. Officials were preparing to slaughter the whole flock of ducks at Goerlitz, near the Polish border.

Germany's national animal health laboratory on the Baltic island of Riems said the find was 'somewhat surprising' as the infection alert had been reduced to moderate after an outbreak was beaten last December.

It remained unknown what proportion of German wild birds were infected, a spokeswoman said. Currently none of Germany's neighbours were reporting any H5N1 finds and the virus had only shown up in Asia in recent months.

The virus can infect people if hygienic precautions are not followed and can kill, but human-to-human infection has only happened in very rare cases, mainly in Asia. Scientists fear the virus could mutate into a human disease causing mass death.

[Shiloh]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Source: http://www.pr-inside.com/de/vogelgri...se-r852923.htm

Google translation:
Gefl?gelhof bird flu detected in Saxony

Dresden (AP) In Germany, there is the first time since months ago another case avian flu. When a duck in a Gefl?gelhof in Saxony was the H5N1 virus has been detected, said the Ministry of Social Affairs in Dresden on Thursday. The farm in the county Goerlitz was reportedly immediately shut off. Was initially unclear yet whether it is for humans to the virus is dangerous. The investigations resulted in the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute through. Latest on Friday, a result available. Precaution will already killing of the stock prepared, it said. Except ducks at the affected Gefl?gelhof the reportedly also turkeys, geese and chickens kept. Last bird flu occurred last December when a private operator to chickens.

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Farm duck positive for H5N1 bird flu in Germany

The Associated Press
Thursday, October 9, 2008
DRESDEN, Germany: Authorities say a duck at a farm in eastern Germany has tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.
The social affairs ministry in the eastern state of Saxony says the farm near Goerlitz on the Polish border has been sealed off.
The ministry said Thursday that the farm has more than 1,000 birds, including turkeys and geese.
Germany has seen several cases of bird flu in the past — most recently in December.
The disease has ravaged poultry stocks in Asia, and scientists believe it spread to both Europe and Africa with migratory wild birds.
Though bird flu is difficult for people to catch, the H5N1 strain has killed at least 206 people worldwide.

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=16822147

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Bird flu back in Germany Dresden (DPA) - the bird flu is back in Germany: With a duck in a utilizable poultry existence in Saxonia the influenza virus was proven of the type H5N1. That communicated the Dresdener to Ministry of Health. It is the first find in Germany in this year. The bird flu had been discovered last in December 2007 with poultry in Brandenburg. The virus found now must be still further examined, a preventive killing of the existence in the district G?rlitz was however prepared.

http://www.focus.de/politik/schlagzeilen?day=20081009&did=924975

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Bird flu back in Germany - duck infects Dresden/G?rlitz (DPA) - the bird flu is back in Germany: With a duck in a utilizable poultry existence in Saxonia the influenza virus was proven of the type H5N1, communicated the Dresdener Ministry of Health on Thursday. It is the first find in Germany in this year. The bird flu had been discovered last in December 2007 with poultry in Brandenburg. The virus found now must be still further examined according to the data, a preventive killing of the existence in the district G?rlitz and further measures was however prepared. After information of the federal research institute for animal health on the Baltic island Riems the bird flu risk for Germany was last downgraded on ?moderately?. The find is ?a small surprise?, the experts however always new cases would not have excluded, did not say a spokeswoman on request. The infection way is still unclear with the positively tested duck. How far the virus is still common in the game bird population, cannot be said likewise at present. Also from the European neighboring countries give it at present no messages over H5N1-Funde. Only in Asia the virus was discovered in recent time again, continued to be called it with the Friedrich Loeffler institute. The bird flu virus H5N1 strikes above all chicken birds and Puten, in addition, Wassergefl?gel such as ducks and geese. With poultry holding it can lead to high economic losses. Also humans can be infected with hygiene lacking at infected animals. A transmission from humans to humans was observed however only with extremely close contact, particularly in Asia.

http://www.badisches-tagblatt.de/html/unterticker/00_20081009174904_Vogelgrippe_zurueck_in_Deutschland___Ente_infi.html

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000434e9d3e9066b4203c&ll=51.279958,14.975739&spn=3.154111,7.437744&z=7

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10090801/H5N1_Germany_Fujian.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10...ny_Fujian.html

Commentary

Fujian H5N1 in Germany?
Recombinomics Commentary 19:46
October 9, 2008


Authorities say a duck at a farm in eastern Germany has tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.
The social affairs ministry in the eastern state of Saxony says the farm near Goerlitz on the Polish border has been sealed off.

The ministry said Thursday that the farm has more than 1,000 birds, including turkeys and geese.

The above comments on confirmed H5N1 in Germany (see satellite map) are curious. In the past, outbreaks in Germany have predated subsequent infections in Europe. H5N1 first migrated into the area in the fall of 2005, but most outbreaks in Europe, including Germany were not reported until early 2006. H5N1 was widespread in Germany and represented at least 3 distinct clade 2.2 (Qinghai strain) sub-clades.

Although there was little activity in the 2006/2007 season, Germany reported multiple outbreaks in the summer of 2007, which was unexpected. Additional outbreaks were also reported in the Czech Republic and France. The isolates in Germany, including Saxony, were analyzed by FLI, who noted that the 2007 isolates were distinct from 2006 and presented a clade 2.2.3 sub-clade that had been reported previously in the Uvs Lake region in Mongolia and Russia. This Uvs lake strain subsequently spread throughout Europe in the 2007/2008 season and was recently reported in Nigeria (and is likely also involved in the recent outbreaks in Benin and Togo).

The latest outbreak may be signaling early arrivals from Siberia and Mongolia, which may include a new sub-clade for Europe, clade 2.3 (Fujian strain). Last spring clade 2.3.2 was responsible for outbreaks in South Korea, Japan, and southeastern Russia. In northern Japan there were multiple outbreaks in whooper swans, which would be expected to create opportunities for migration of H5N1 to the same areas that gave rise to clade 2.2.3. Thus, the sequences of the H5N1 would be of interest. Previously, all H5N1 west of China has been clade 2.2. If the H5N1 in Germany is clade 2.3, it would signal a major global expansion of this sub-clade, which ahs been responsible for all reported human cases in China, as well as recent cases in Vietnam.


.

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

German state says bird flu case found
09 Oct 2008 18:57:19 GMT
<!-- 09 Oct 2008 18:57:19 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove -->Source: Reuters

<!-- AN5.0 article title end --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/bin/js/article.js"></SCRIPT></SPAN> <!-- German state says bird flu case found --><!-- Reuters -->BERLIN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The German state of Saxony said on Thursday the H5N1 bird flu strain had been detected in a duck at a farm near Dresden late on Wednesday.
"Tests are being carried out to determine whether it is the highly contagious version of the epidemic," said Ralph Schreiber, spokesman for Saxony's social welfare ministry.
The flu strain was detected in the duck during a routine examination at the farm, which held some 1,400 birds. All birds at the farm would be killed as a precaution, Schreiber said. (Reporting by Paul Carrel)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L994724.htm

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

The Reuters report mentions routine examination, which is how the low path H5N2 in Korea was found. However, these reports indicate the H5 found was H5N1, which suggests some additional testing has alrwady been done to determine the N serotype (and suggest it will be HPAI, even though the ducks are asymptomatic). Low path H5N1 has been reported in Europe, but it is rare.

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

http://www.focus.de/gesundheit/news/vogelgrippe-vogelgrippe-bricht-erneut-in-deutschland-aus_aid_339517.html

Bird flu breaks out again in Germany In the district G?rlitz was proven in a utilizable poultry existence with a duck of the Subtyp H5N1, nor it is however examined whether it concerns the high-sticking on H5N1-Variante. The existence of the village with G?rlitz, about 1400 animals, is killed however as a precaution.

Bird flu virus reaches the European Union in Germany the bird flu again broke out. In the district G?rlitz was proven in a utilizable poultry existence with a duck of the Subtyp H5N1, communicated the Saxonian Social Department on Thursday. ?It is examined at present whether it concerns, said the high-sticking on H5N1-Variante ?ministerial spokesman Ralph writer. The samples were analyzed by the Friedrich Loeffler institute on the Baltic island Riems. The existence in a village with G?rlitz is killed as a precaution, continued to say the speaker. Under it 700 geese concern 1400 animals. The enterprise is closed. The virus was determined during a routine investigation. The duck showed no disease symptoms. Additional 150 samples were taken, in order to see whether the virus already spread in the existence. In Saxonia 2006 in a utilizable animal existence the bird flu had been proven last. Past year was determined according to data of writer with seven wild birds the virus

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

German state says bird flu case found
09 Oct 2008 19:48:49 GMT
<!-- 09 Oct 2008 19:48:49 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove -->Source: Reuters

<!-- AN5.0 article title end --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/bin/js/article.js"></SCRIPT></SPAN><INPUT id=CurrentSize type=hidden value=13 name=CurrentSize> <!-- German state says bird flu case found --><!-- Reuters -->(Adds detail, background)
BERLIN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The German state of Saxony said on Thursday the H5N1 bird flu strain had been detected in a duck at a poultry farm near Dresden late on Wednesday.
"Tests are being carried out to determine whether it is the highly contagious version of the epidemic," said Ralph Schreiber, spokesman for Saxony's social welfare ministry.
The flu strain was detected in the duck during a routine examination at the farm, which held some 1,400 birds. All birds at the farm would be killed as a precaution, Schreiber said, adding that access to the farm was blocked off.
Bird flu was last detected at a farm in Saxony in 2006. Last year, seven wild birds were found with the virus in the eastern state, Schreiber said.
The virus has infected 387 people in 15 countries, killing 245 of them, according to the World Health Organisation's Aug. 10 tally. Indonesia has the highest toll of any nation.
Although bird flu remains an animal disease, experts fear that the virus might mutate into a form easily passed from human to human, sparking a pandemic in which case millions could die. (Reporting by Paul Carrel; editing by Jim Marshall)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L9475613.htm

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Bird flu back in Germany - duck in Saxonia infects The bird flu is back in Germany: With a duck in a utilizable poultry existence in marker village with G?rlitz in Saxonia the influenza virus was proven of the type H5N1. This communicated the sachsische Ministry of Health in Dresden. It is the first find in Germany in this year. The bird flu had been discovered last in December 2007 with poultry in Brandenburg. The existence in a village with G?rlitz is killed as a precaution, said the speaker of the Saxonian Social Department. Under it 700 geese concern 1400 animals. The enterprise is closed. The virus was determined during a routine investigation. The duck showed no disease symptoms. Additional 150 samples were taken, in order to see, whether the virus already spread in the existence, continued to be called it. After information of the federal research institute for animal health on the Baltic island Riems last was the bird flu risk for Germany on " m?ssig" downgraded. The find is " a small ?berraschung" , the experts would not have excluded, said however always new cases a spokeswoman on request. The infection way is still unclear with the duck. How far the virus is still common in the game bird population, cannot be said. Also from the European neighboring countries give it at present no messages over H5N1-Funde. Only in Asia the virus was again discovered in recent time. The bird flu virus H5N1 strikes above all chicken birds and Puten, in addition, Wassergefl?gel such as ducks and geese. With poultry holding it can lead to high economic losses. Also humans can be infected with hygiene lacking at infected animals. A transmission from humans to humans was observed however only with extremely close contact, particularly in Asia. sda Published to 09.10.2008

http://www.sonntagszeitung.ch/home/artikel-detailseite-sda/?newsid=45963

[HenryN]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

BIRD FLU REAPPEARS IN GERMANY

posted: October 09, 2008
BERLIN, OCT 9 (BNA)-- BIRD FLU REAPPEARED IN GERMANY AS A DUCK WAS FOUND H5N1 POSITIVE IN A FARM IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY.

SOURCES FROM THE LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN DRESDEN THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST APPEARANCE FOR THE DISEASE IN GERMANY THIS YEAR. THE SOURCES ADDED THAT THE DUCKS IN THE FARM WILL BE SLAUGHTERED AND THAT OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. GERMANYS NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY SAID THE FIND WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISING AS THE INFECTION ALERT HAD BEEN REDUCED TO MODERATE AFTER AN OUTBREAK WAS BEATEN LAST DECEMBER. THE LAST FIND OF THE DISEASE WAS IN THE GERMAN STATE OF BRANDENBURG0 NTQ/ 09-OCT-2008 21:41

http://english.bna.bh/newsadmin/printable.php?ID=73361

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: H5N1 returns to Germany

Location of the outbreak: in the village of Markersdorf, in Saxony province, not far from Poland and Czechia.