Thailand, H5N1 found in chickens

[Dutchy]

Bird Flu Scare Emerges in Sukhothai

UPDATE : 30 October 2008


Thailand might be in the grip of a fatal bird-flu scare again, after the H5N1 virus was found in chicken carcasses in northern Sukhothai Province.

Livestock officials in Sukhothai Province reported the discovery of the H5N1 virus in domestic chickens raised by Mee Puengwang, a resident of Nong Wong Kwian Village in Swankalok District.

Assistant Village Chief Jamnien Puengwang said that 29 families in the village raised a total of nearly 1,000 chickens before a number of them began to die of suspicious causes.

She said there were no reports of the deaths of these fowls as some villagers were worried that their fighting birds might be slaughtered due to bird-flu fears.

After officials declared the discovery, all chickens in Sawankalok District were destroyed and their owners are to receive 32 baht per kilogramme for the killed birds.

Sukhothai Governor Yothin Samutkheeree has urged all related agencies to keep a close eye on the probable viral spread, especially in the areas where H5N1 was once found.

Locals have been asked to report any suspicious deaths of birds immediately.

During the months of August and September, bird-flu virus was reportedly spreading in Sawankalok District before it was recently detected again in a nearby district.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/toc/Vi...DataID=1010292

[Laidback Al]

from ProMED -
http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?..._ID:1000,74593


[The last official information on H5N1 in Thailand has been submitted
to the OIE on 25 Apr 2008, when the final, 5th follow-up report
stated that the outbreak in Phichit, which had started on 18 Jan
2008, resolved on 13 Feb 2008 (controlled by stamping out). Further
details and a map of the 2 foci are available at
.
The current suspected outbreak at Sukhothai province (map at
) is pending
official notification, supported by laboratory confirmation. - Mod.AS]
[see also:
Avian influenza, human (58): Thailand (Phichit), NOT 20080731.2351
Avian influenza (36): Thailand, mosquitoes 20080219.0676
Avian influenza (23): India (West Bengal), Thailand (Phichit) 20080126.0328
2007
----
Avian influenza (162): Thailand (Phichit) 20070928.3209
Avian influenza (91): Thailand (prevention), Viet Nam 20070528.1711
Avian influenza (59): Bangladesh, Thailand 20070324.1032
Avian influenza (55): Nigeria, VietNam, Myanmar, Japan, Thailand 20070320.0986
01-FEB-07 PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (21): Thailand, Indonesia,
Georgia,RFI 20070201.0411
24-JAN-07 PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (15): China, Japan, Thailand,
Nigeria, Hungary 20070124.0313]
....................arn/ejp/lm

[ironorehopper]

AVIAN INFLUENZA (109)- THAILAND (SUKHOTHAI), UPDATE [ProMedMail.org]

AVIAN INFLUENZA (109)- THAILAND (SUKHOTHAI), UPDATE
************************************************** *

A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Tue 4 Nov 2008

From: Sakchai Sriboonsue [edited]

re: ProMED-mail Avian influenza (108): Thailand (Sukhothai) susp, RFI 20081101.3440
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Department of Livestock Development (DLD) would like to update you with information regarding this article as follows:

On 16 Oct 2008, Sukhothai veterinary officials were notified of suspected cases of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] according to DLD case definition (a clinically suspected HPAI case for poultry raised in a low biosecurity system is defined as that experiencing 5 per cent mortality within 2 consecutive days) in Paknam sub-district, Sawankalok district, Sukhothai province.

Preliminary investigation revealed that, on 10 Oct 2008, the farmer observed the initial one death out of 14 chickens in an index household.

The cumulative mortality as of 16 Oct 2008 was 5 out of 14.

The abnormal death of poultry was confined within an household.

On the date of discovery, animal health officials commenced control interventions according to national protocols, some of which were
- immediate stamping out: 789 poultry were destroyed, including those remaining of the index household;
- cleaning and disinfection of the index household and surrounding areas;
- village gathering as part of the public communication and education;
- restriction of movement in and out of the affected village;
- submission of samples to responsible laboratory for confirmation.

Surveillance within a 5 km (3.1 mi) radius surrounding the index household has been intensified.

A total of 200 cloacal swabs samples were collected from 50 villages in 5 sub-districts.

Samples were sent to Lower-northern Veterinary Research and Development Center (LN-VRDC).

Results from LN-VRDC for the samples submitted from Sukhothai and other provinces thus far have shown no evidence of HPAI infection.

As a precaution following the preemptive culling policy, an additional 4740 birds from 240 household in 12 villages were destroyed, with 75 per cent compensation (45 Baht or USD 1.3 per kilogram).

From 26 Jan to 31 Oct 2008, DLD received 1293 notifications of sick or dead poultry conforming HPAI suspicions.

All reports were followed by prompt investigation.

The collection of samples for laboratory confirmation was emphasized, if available.

To date, there has been no laboratory evidence of HPAI.
--
Dr Sakchai Sriboonsue Director General Department of Livestock Development Thailand

[In ProMED-mail posting 20081101.3440, dated 1 Nov 2008, we commented:
"The current suspected outbreak at Sukhothai province is pending official notification, supported by laboratory confirmation."

The immediate response above from Thailand's official authority with first hand, detailed information, is much appreciated, attesting for Thailand's remarkable transparency regarding its avian influenza situation, as meticulously practised since February 2004.

Thailand has managed to control H5N1 rather effectively following the major outbreak, which severely affected the country during 2004 and 2005.

This was done mainly by the application of stamping out, animal movement measures, and related zoosanitary measures, while officially prohibiting vaccination, and accompanied by extensive surveillance.

Compared to 136 outbreaks in poultry farms during 2005, 2 outbreaks were reported in 2006, and none during 2007. In January-February 2008, single outbreaks were reported from Phichit and Nakhon Sawan. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE; Office International des Epizooties) WAHID interface, HPAI is not a notifiable animal disease in Thailand.

It would be interesting to note if laboratory tests have been carried out in samples from the affected household to confirm the epidemiological, clinical (and postmortem?) suspicions.

Otherwise, the authorities have treated the event as a suspected outbreak, applying a justifiable severe precautionary disease control policy which included, among others, the stamping out of the index household and the preemptive culling around it. - Mod.AS]

[see also:
Avian influenza (108): Thailand (Sukhothai) susp, RFI 20081101.3440
Avian influenza (36): Thailand, mosquitoes 20080219.0676
Avian influenza (23): India (West Bengal), Thailand (Phichit) 20080126.0328

2007
----
Avian influenza (162): Thailand (Phichit) 20070928.3209
Avian influenza (91): Thailand (prevention), Viet Nam 20070528.1711
Avian influenza (12): Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, OIE 20070118.0237

2006
---
Avian influenza (175) - Thailand (Uthai Thani) 20060807.2204
Avian influenza (172) - Thailand (Nakhon Phanom): OIE 20060805.2167
Avian influenza (165) - Thailand: OIE 20060731.2113
Avian influenza (160) - Thailand 20060727.2065
Avian influenza (159) - Thailand, H5N1 confirmed 20060724.2042

2005
---
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (73): Thailand, OIE 20050716.2031

2004
---
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (155): Thailand, OIE 20041226.3416
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (152): Thailand, vacc. trials 20041225.3413
Avian influenza, Eastern Asia (139): Thailand, tigers, OIE 20041120.3111
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (136): Thailand, ducks 20041111.3046
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (131): Thailand, tigers & leopards 20041024.2874
Avian influenza, Eastern Asia (129): Thailand, tigers, OIE 20041022.2865
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (78): Thailand, cats 20040617.1614
Avian influenza - Thailand: OIE update 20040207.0438
Avian influenza, Thailand - OIE 20040124.0276
Avian influenza, human - Thailand (03) 20040123.0268
Avian influenza, human - Thailand (02): confirmed 20040123.0262
Avian influenza, human - Thailand: suspected 20040122.0247
Avian influenza - Thailand (02): not 20040109.0097
Avian influenza - Thailand: RFI 20040105.0051]
.................arn/mj/sh
-

http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2..._ID:1000,74619
Posted by Giuseppe Michieli at 11/04/2008 05:10:00 PM

[Dutchy]

Bird flu spreads in Sukhothai

By The Nation

Published on November 12, 2008


The bird flu outbreak that was first detected in Sukhothai's Thung Saliam district has spread to the neighbouring Sawankhalok district where 30 chickens died yesterday from the deadly avian virus in Moo 2 of Tambon Nai Muang, an informed source said.


Public health officials immediately buried the dead birds, sent samples for laboratory testing and disinfected the entire village to prevent the bird flu from spreading.


Another 385 chickens belonging to 28 farmers in the Moo 2 were caught last night and would be culled this morning as a precautionary measure.


Livestock officials have called the 13 village headmen in the tambon to explain the situation to the residents and urge them to cull the tambon's chickens.


The Livestock Development Department will dispatch 40 officials this morning to Sukhothai, which has been declared a red zone, to organise a team with another 40 local officials to X-ray the 13 suspected areas in the province, spray disinfectants and set up checkpoints to stop poultry transport.


Agriculture Minister Somsak Prisananantakul yesterday admitted the H5N1 strain of avian influenza was detected in Sukhothai and urged for the virus containment.


He said the strain found in Uthai Thani, however, was only identified as H5 virus and would take 1 - 2 days to confirm. He added that a poultry transport ban had already been imposed there.


Tak province yesterday requested an additional 80-strong team from the Livestock Development Department to examine birds at checkpoints at the area in Tak near the Sukhothai outbreak area. He also urged all kamnans and village headmen to help inspect villages for suspected bird flu cases.


Phitsanulok livestock official Methee Ketadisorn said the province had sprayed disinfectant in all districts on October 22, before the virus was detected in Thung Saliam, and had not yet received any dead bird reports.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...l_30088176.php

[HenryN]

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...6,6.328125&z=7

[HenryN]

Commentray

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11...ok_Spread.html

[Dutchy]

Strict Bird-Flu Control in Sukhothai and Nearby Provinces

UPDATE : 12 November 2008


The Disease Control Department has declared a district in Sukhothai Province a disaster zone, in order to facilitate the bird-flu surveillance program, while many countries have also stepped up their watch for fear of the spread of the deadly virus.

The Disease Control Department has named Tambon Tung Saliang in Tung Saliang District of Sukhothai Province a disaster zone for 15 days, following the finding of the H5N1 virus in the area.

The announcement is intended to enable health officials to control the virus spread more effectively.

Sawankalok Livestock Department’s Paopan Praneebutr and Sawankalok Hospital, as well as Livestock Department officials, have gone out to educate locals about the deadly virus, while collaborating with the Local Administrative Office to set up checkpoints to prevent the transfer of birds in the area.

Meanwhile, in Kampaeng Petch, Pran Kratai Livestock Department’s Somyos Puangto and health volunteers have gone out to spray disinfectant in the areas that are adjacent to Sukhothai province, to prevent the spread of H5N1.

More checkpoints have also been set up on all roads.

And, in Buri Ram, officials have confiscated almost 2,000 free-range ducks that have been transported without permit.

The owners of the birds have been charged with smuggling birds into bird-flu surveillance zone and are subject to a maximum jail term of one year or a maximum fine of 20,000 baht, or both.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/toc/Vi...DataID=1010495

[Shiloh]

Source: http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=7232


Health officials to discuss bird flu

BANGKOK, Nov 12 (TNA) - Public Health Ministry officials from nine northern Thai provinces will confer Thursday on the deadly avian influenza after the disease was discovered in two districts following the abrupt arrival of winter in recent days, a senior ministry official said Wednesday.

Disease Control Department director-general Dr. Somchai Chakrabhand said the government officials will meet in Phitsanulok where the the potentially deadly disease was detected in chicken carcasses and in humans several times in the past few years.

The meeting was convened after the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected in a dead fowl in Thung Saliam district of central Sukhothai province on October 28. Also, a number of birds were found dead of unknown causes in Nong Chang district of Uthai Thani province recently.

Deputy Public Health Minister Vicharn Minchainant said that the country if fortunate that no humans who have contracted bird flu have been found in the two provinces so far.

However, health officials are now closely monitoring the situation in the two provinces on a daily basis.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Praj Boonyawongvirot said his ministry had established a "war room" to assess the bird flu situation in the country on a regular basis and also to launch campaigns among the public to warn about the danger of the disease and how to respond to it. (TNA)

General News : Last Update : 19:23:42 12 November 2008 (GMT+7:00)

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/131108_Ne...008_news16.php

Bird flu prompts mass cull

POST REPORTERS

UTHAI THANI : Another outbreak of bird flu was detected in Nong Chang district yesterday, prompting a mass culling of infected chickens amid resentment among poultry breeders.

The discovery came after five chickens at a farm in Thung Saliam district of Sukhothai became sick and died on Oct 27. Lab tests showed one chicken carcass was infected with the H5N1 virus.

Provincial livestock officials disinfected bird flu-hit Ban Hua Khao, where the chickens died of unknown causes, culled scores more chickens and collected the carcasses for lab tests.

The culling infuriated three poultry owners because the chickens were breeding stock and expensive.

Besides, there had been no official proof of avian flu infection in the fowls, they said.

Despite all efforts to contain bird flu, Sukhothai was hit again as the deadly virus was discovered on a fighting cock farm in Sawankhalok yesterday.

Samples of blood and droppings from fighting cocks bred by farmer Pinyo Ketnil were collected for a second lab test following the first last week.

The test showed that the chickens were infected with bird flu, but the epidemiologists had yet to identify the strain.

To date, no fighting cocks have died.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Somsak Prissananantakul reprimanded the Livestock Development Department for the two-week delay in a lab test report on the bird flu outbreak in Sukhothai, which he said could worsen the ongoing situation.

A war room has been set up at both provincial health offices to monitor the bird flu situation, according to the Public Health Ministry.

[HenryN]

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...69,19.6875&z=6

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11...read_More.html

[Dutchy]

9 northern Thai provinces under special watch for bird flu


www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-13

BANGKOK, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Thursday declared nine northern provinces under a special watch for the deadly avian influenza after the disease was discovered in two districts in the region recently.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Paichai Varachit said the decision to impose the special monitoring was made at a meeting of ministry officials early Thursday.

As cold weather began in most parts of Thailand, health officials on Oct. 28 detected the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in a dead fowl in Thung Salium district of Sukhothai province.

Also, a number of birds were found dead of unknown causes in Nong Chang district of Uthai Thani province recently.

Every hospital in the nine provinces are also instructed to provide treatment speedily to patients suspected to have contracted avian influenza or live in areas where birds died for unknown causes without waiting for laboratory tests, said Dr. Paichit.


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...t_10353869.htm

[Dutchy]

Bird flu detected in Uthai Thani


Another bird-flu outbreak among fowls was confirmed in Uthai Thani.

Sakchai Sriboonsue, the director-general of Livestock Department, said lab test confirmed that fowls, which died earlier in the province, caught avian flu virus.
He said his department had already took all necessary actions to control the outbreak before the lab results came out.

On Sunday, the department also confirmed that the bird flu outbreak among fouls was detected in Sukhothai.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30088373

[Dutchy]

Public Warned against Bird Flu Outbreak in Lower North

UPDATE : 14 November 2008

Residents in the lower northern province of Uthai Thani have been cautioned about the spread of bird flu. The good news is two children suspected of having the infection have tested negative.

A Public Health Ministry official has warned the public to beware of avian influenza, after an infection was discovered in poultry in Nongchang District of Uthai Thani Province. Earlier, the virus was detected in Sukothai province.

The official said cool temperatures may support the spread of the virus and cause bird-to-human transmission; therefore, those who have knowledge of any fowls dying of unknown causes must inform public health officers, while any person who has touched dead poultry should see a doctor immediately if they experience coughing, high fever, muscle pain, and shortness of breath.

Meanwhile, patients suspected of having being infected with the bird flu in local hospitals in Uthai Thani, including two boys aged two and five years old, have been found not to have the infection.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/toc/Vi...DataID=1010545

[Shiloh]

Source: http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=7263

Uthai Thani instigates 21 day surveillance in bird flu area

BANGKOK, Nov 14 (TNA) - Thailand's Public Health Ministry is keeping a close 21-day watch over local residents in Uthai Thani's Nong Chang district, after a dead fowl was discovered infected with deadly avian influenza on Thursday, a senior official said.

Public Health Minister Chalerm Ubamrung said disease-control prevention measures regarding avian influenza in humans have strictly been imposed to restore the confidence of local residents.

The ministry says it was aiming to prevent the deadly virus from spreading to humans in the area where the death of fowl had occurred. Moreover, cooperation of local residents in Sukothai's Thung Salium district would make the disease control quick and practical, stated Chalerm.

Meanwhile, Department of Disease Control director-general Dr. Somchai Chakrabhand said disease control in Uthai Thani's Nong Chang district was progressing steadily. Patients with respiratory symptoms indicating a possible exposure to avian influenza had been strictly screened to see whether there were at risk of contracting the virus.

In Nong Chang district, the special watch efforts had identified 21 suspected patients.

However, according to lab tests, there had not yet been any infected by the deadly virus, but rather they had common influenza. Test result of 902 patients nationwide have found no human bird flu cases.

The disease's main suspected symptom is fever and coughing in those living in the vicinity of places where birds, whether domestic fowl or wild, have been found.

Patients with such symptoms are suggested to see a doctor immediately. There will be a high chance of death if a treatment is not received in time. (TNA)

General News : Last Update : 19:00:51 14 November 2008 (GMT+7:00)

[Treyfish]

Bird flu detected in Uthai Thani

Another bird-flu outbreak among fowls was confirmed in Uthai Thani.

Sakchai Sriboonsue, the director-general of Livestock Department, said lab test confirmed that fowls, which died earlier in the province, caught avian flu virus.

He said his department had already took all necessary actions to control the outbreak before the lab results came out.

On Sunday, the department also confirmed that the bird flu outbreak among fouls was detected in Sukhothai.http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30088373

[ironorehopper]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Thailand (11/17/2008) [WAHID Interface - OIE]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Thailand

Information received on 17/11/2008 from Dr Sakchai Sriboonsue, Director General , Department of Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives , Bangkok, Thailand

§ Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 1
Start date 27/10/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 09/11/2008
Report date 17/11/2008
Date submitted to OIE 17/11/2008
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 13/02/2008
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country
Related reports
* Immediate notification (10/11/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 1 (17/11/2008)

§ New outbreaks
* Outbreak 1 - Village No 6, ThungPho, NongChang, UTHAI THANI
Date of start of the outbreak 10/11/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Village
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
* Birds - 7 - 5 - 5 - 2 - 0
Affected population native chickens

§ Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
* Birds - 71.43% - 71.43% - 100.00% - 100.00%
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

§ Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
* Pending investigation

§ Control measures
Measures applied
* Stamping out
* Quarantine
* Movement control inside the country
* Screening
* Zoning
* Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
* Dipping / Spraying
* Vaccination prohibited
* No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
* No other measures

§ Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type National Institute of Animal Health (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Birds - virus isolation - 13/11/2008 - Positive

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

WAHID Interface - OIE World Animal Health Information Database

[Treyfish]

Health Offices across Thailand Step up Bird Flu Monitorings


Health Offices across Thailand Stepup Bird Flu Monitorings
Health offices in several provinces have started spraying anti-bird flu disinfectant and cleaning up areas suspected to be at risk of contracting bird flu while campaigning for more public awareness about the danger of the H5N1 virus.

Sukhothai Governor Yothin Samutkheeree has chaired a meeting on a special campaign aimed to promote the clean-up and the disinfection of bird-flu virus in all risk areas. The campaign followed hot on the heel of an order from the Livestock Department for all the provinces to safeguard its residents and fowls from from H5N1.

Yothin added that officials have already set up checkpoints to control the transport of fowls and issued a ban on cock fight matches across the province.

He is assuring residents of Sukhothai that the bird-flu situation is now under total control.

In northeastern Mukdahan, Livestock Department officials are closely monitoring the situation and are on a lookout for any new outbreak of bird flu.

They have also collaborated with local health volunteers to educate the public about the deadly virus and set up checkpoints along the routes that connects Mukdahan with adjacent provinces, to control the movement of fowls.

Mukdahan authorities are asking locals to immediately report any suspicious and sudden deaths of fowls, and not to touch or consume the fowls suspected to be infected with H5N1.

Meanwhile, in Nakhon Sawan Province, Livestock Department officials also inspected a pig farm in Muang District, after all the pigs at the farm died suddenly. However, officials believed that all the pigs died from a bacterial infection that usually spreads during the change of seasons.

[sharon sanders]

via machine translation -

Thailand this week two cases of bird flu found in 9 provinces declared a state of control
At 2:43 p.m. on November 14, 2008 Source: China News Network comment

BEIJING, Nov. 14 Xinhua comprehensive report, following Thailand this week, there were two cases of bird flu, Thailand Minister of Health announced that 13 other 9 provinces into a state monitoring.

Health officials on Oct. 28 in Sukhothai found avian influenza virus, then the authorities ordered more than 200 chickens were culled. In addition, they are also this week Uthai Thani was found more than nameless dead birds.

At present, the monitoring into the state's 9 provinces are equipped with emergency-related prevention and treatment facilities.

According to the World Health Organization data from 2003 onwards, Thailand, 17 people were infected with bird flu virus died.
【Editor: Chen Xiaoxiao】




泰國本週發現兩起禽流感 9省宣佈進入監控狀態
2008年11月14日 14:43 來源：中國新聞網 發表評論

　　中新網11月14日電 綜合報道，繼泰國本週發生兩起禽流感病例後，泰國衛生部長13日宣佈其他9省進入監控狀態。

　　衛生官員于10月28日在素可泰府發現禽流感病毒，當局接著下令撲殺200多只雞。 此外，他們本週還在烏泰他尼府發現多只莫名死亡的鳥。

　　目前，進入監控狀態的9省都配備了相關的應急預防和治療設施。

　　據世界衛生組織的數據，從2003年起，泰國有17人因感染禽流感病毒而喪命。
【編輯:陳曉曉】

http://big5.chinanews.com.cn:89/gj/y.../1449798.shtml

[Commonground]

China Bans Thai Poultry Following H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak

Editor: Sharon Li
5 Dec 2008 08:28:05 GMT

China has banned poultry imports and its related products from Thailand following a deadly H5N1 strain avian influenza outbreak there, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The strain was discovered Oct. 27 in Thailand, Xinhua said. It is not immediately clear why China decided to ban poultry at this juncture.

The report didn't indicate how much poultry China imports from Thailand. The deadly H5N1 strain is blamed for hundreds of human deaths around the world and has devastated poultry stocks globally.

Health officials fear a mutating virus, which is already known to jump from birds to humans, that may cause a global pandemic.

[gsgs]

A/chicken/Thailand/ST-351/2008(H5N1)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/...report=genbank

all 8 segments, submitted Oct.01,2009
no date or location given


this virus is remarkable, it is close to the original Vietnam virus from 2003,
but more distant from other more recent viruses

8,5,5,8,2,14,3,5 nucleotide-differences to Index-Vietnam/2003(H5N1)
17,17,14,28,10,27,8,8 nucleotide-differences to Index-genotype-Z/~2001(H5N1)
19,16,15,26,10,17,7,9 nucleotide-differences of Vietnam to genotype_Z

(genotype-Z is the ancestor of all modern H5N1, including Indonesia,Vietnam,
Thailand,Qinghai,Japan,Henan,Fujian(except segment 3),...)

0,2,0,6,1,5,1,2 differences to A/little grebe/Thailand/Phichit-01/2004(H5N1)
which in turn has 8,7,5,6,1,11,2,7 differences to Index-Vietnam/2003
http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/seameo/2..._3/01-4106.pdf



2006-outbreak Phichit:
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8463

2004-outbreak Phichit: ?

                                                      0000000111111111122222 000000001111111111122 00000000001111111 000000000000000000000000000111111111111 00000000011 000000000000000000000011111111 000000000 0000000000000 
                                                      0333349023356677901112 234557790001256788802 01335678992225688 001122333344444555666778899022455566666 00223455911 000000111222355677799900011223 225567788 1122333444578 
                                                      2112936182374555780551 135792592457694123915 50053400598992967 221209023411368137138260923459645813458 35572834114 155578123588689634502317846476 482716878 7827669049600 
                                                      2352953683387358439141 906010610119338043036 12047558701361598 278045586989470241463057470219400610793 01834379569 305765743145039327717381654380 652934085 7033455837870 
-codon-position---------------------------------------11 1   21 1      1            1  1   1              1          1 1  121 11222 2 12 2      1   122 1                121 11 1122  12   11  1  2 1 1     12 2    1 122 22122 
---Index----------------------------------------------AAGATTACCCCGCATACCAAAG AGGAAAGGCATACGCGGGGTG GACTACATGAATTAGAA CAGTAGCACCGACGCAACGCAACAGCACTACTACAGGTG TAGAGCCGTAT CTAAAAGACCGCGAACTGTATGCTCGGTAA TGGGGCGTA TGGAACTAAGTCG 
   1 >A/Ck/Thailand/ST-351/2008(H5N1)                 CG.G..TA.T.ATGCGTTGGGA GAAG.G..T.CGTATAAAACA .GTCGAGC.T.CAGAGG T.A.G.TGTTAGTA.GG.ATG..G.T.TCGTCGTT.AC. CGAGAA.ACGC ACGG.TCGAAATAG.TCTCC.ATCAAACGG .AAAAAAGC CAA.GT.G..AA.
   2 >A/little grebe/Thailand/Phichit-01/2004(H5N1)   CG.G..TA.T.ATGCGTTGGGA GAAG.G.ATGCGTATAAAACA .GTCGAGC.T.CAGAGG T...G.TGTTAGTA.GG.A.G....T.TCGTC.TTAACA .GAGAA.ACGC AC.G.TC.AAATA.GTCTCC..TCAAACGG ..AAAAAGC .AAGGT.G..AA.
   3 >Index Vietnam                                   CGAGCGTAATTA.GC..TGGGA ...GGGC.T.CGTATAAAACA AGTCGA.CA.GCAGAGG TG..G.TGTTAGTA.GGAA.GG...T.TCGT..TT.AC. .GAGAATACGC .C..G.C..AA.....CTCCC.TC.AACGG C.A.AAAGC CAA...CGG.AAA
   4 >A/Index-se9agbi.26                              ...................... ..................... ................. ...C.A.G......T.G.....A.A.C............ ........... .............................. ......... .........A...
   5 >Index-se9agbi.51                                ...................... ..................... ................. ....................................... ........... .............................. ......... .............

[gsgs]

6 mutations (wrt. the genotype-Z index) from the little grebe 2004 were "undone"
while 12 new ones were generated.
So this doesn't look like a lab-error, a contamination with the little-grebe-virus
or another virus.
The sample could still have been stored and then intermixed with othe samples
and thus given a wrong collection-year

We also had this with 3 viruses from Vietnam 2005 that had the genes from
HK/1997 in almost unchanged form. A/duck/Vietnam/8/05(H5N1) ...

And the Hungary-Suffolk virus from 2007 that had only as many mutations
as similar viruses from >one year before.

H5N1 may in rare cases (<5%) survive unchanged in grebes or other animals
or in the environment without replicating, without mutating.

Maybe in immunodeficient animals in certain organs or organelles.
Maybe inside sandcorns or dust or bacteria or small holes protected
rom chemicals and radiation


------------------------------------------------


HA,Thailand,2008
---------------------
A/chicken/Thailand/ICRC-V586/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Thailand/ICRC-618/2008(H5N1)
A/brown-head gull/Thailand/vsmu-4/2008(H5N1)
A/duck/Thailand/ICRC-V629/2008(H5N1)
A/Kalij pheasant/Thailand/vsmu-1/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Thailand/NS-341/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Thailand/NS-342/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Thailand/NS-339/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Thailand/PC-340/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Uthaithani/NIAH115067/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Sukhothai/NIAH114843/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Thailand/ST-351/2008(H5N1)
A/chicken/Phichit/NIAH600674/2008/01(H5N1))
A/chicken/Nakhonsawan/NIAH6006587/2008/01(H5N1)
A/chicken/Sukhothai/NIAH114843/2008/11(H5N1)
A/chicken/Uthaithani/NIAH115067/2008/11(H5N1)
A/chicken/Thailand/CU-354/2008/11/14(H5N1)


NIAH: Department of Livestock Development, National Institute of Animal Health
, Kasetklang, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
ICRC: Molecular Biology and Virology Unit,
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University,
Putthamontol-4, Salaya, Nakornpatom 73170, Thailand
vsmu: Molecular Biology and Virology Unit,
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University,
Puthamontol-4 Rd., Salaya, Nakornpathom 73170, Thailand
NS-: Pediatric, Chulalongkorn University,
Pratumwan, Bangkok, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
ST-: Chulalongkorn University,
Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
PC-: Pediatrics, Chulalongkorn University,
Pratumwan, Bangkok, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
CU: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Public Health Department,
Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand


no google-hits, no info where that st-351 sequence was from, no date (only 2008),
no location. Nor the circumstances nor any mentioning let alone speculation why
that virus was conserved for 4 years.