Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

[Gert van der Hoek]

Bird flu in the district of Cloppenburg: 9000 turkeys killed


On a turkey farm in Cloppenburg region a mild form of bird flu has been detected. All 9,000 animals had already been slaughtered, said a spokesman of the Ministry of Agriculture in Hanover on Wednesday.

It is however not the highly dangerous H5N1 virus. For people there is no danger. Now you need to run a 1000-meter exclusion zone set up the stalls are cleaned.

In other stocks in the district of Cloppenburg, in which there are many poultry farms, nothing extra ordinary has been noticed the ministry said.



Published 10.12.2008

http://www.haz.de/newsroom/politik/zentral/politik/niedersachsen/art668,753314

[Shiloh]

Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany

Source:

http://www.dernewsticker.de/news.php?id=68843

DDP announcement from 11.12.2008, 19:05 clock

Other 20 000 turkeys must be killed

Hanover (ddp-NRD). After the occurrence of a mild form of avian influenza in turkey flocks in the district of Cloppenburg, the number of animals are further increased. On Thursday, in another two turkey flocks an outbreak of animal disease has been found, said the spokesman for the district of Cloppenburg, Ansgar Meyer, on Reuters inquiry. Affected were a total of 20 000 turkeys, which should be immediately killed to prevent further spread of the disease to prevent.

Previously was already fattening in 9000 from a herd in the municipality Garrel a low pathogenic subtype of the influenza virus H 5 has been found. The animals have been slaughtered on Saturday. The meat was, according to the spokesman under official supervision and not be marketed. Overall in the county have twelve poultry farms on a possible transmission of the disease will be investigated. The total number of animals amount to 195 000, said Meyer.

For cases of the disease was not bird flu known as the dangerous H5N1 variant, said the head of the District Veterinary Office Karl-Wilhelm Paschertz. He suspects that the current virus from wild birds have been introduced. Particularly ducks are often silent carriers of low pathogenic influenza virus. For humans, the disease claimed to no risk;

(Reuters)

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Germany: Avian Flu in Turkeys; H5N2

Bird flu in Lower Saxony

Tens of thousands of turkeys killed

In the fight against the avian influenza outbreak Cloppenburg district, the authorities in the town of Garrel meanwhile kill 34,000turkeys - and being kept indoors.


Reisen with the virus since last weekend were the stocks of four farms have been killed, said district spokesman Ansgar Meyer. When a stock was the killing on Friday, however precaution happen without a positive result would have existed. "There was a contact with the infected animals came," said Meyer. Altogether, meanwhile the herds of twelve plants with a total of 190 000 animals examined.

In one case, on Friday midday been complacency, it said. In the Mastputenbest?nden was little contagious influenza virus H5N2 detected. It is a mild form of bird flu, which vets usually referred to as avian influenza and not the highly aggressive virus H5N1, which is also dangerous for humans can be.

The investigations at the Veterinary Institute of Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES) of the remaining seven stocks are very time consuming. If the experts come to no result, will intensively searched for potential pathogens, said Meyer. "In each stall, a large number of samples," he said.


Harmless for humans

Meanwhile, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture, no chickens, ducks and other poultry outdoors more to keep. The agriculture ministry in Hanover on Friday revoked the exemption permits, with which the general duty to shed two-thirds of the land was set aside. From now allowed only in poultry barns or in outdoor aviaries vogelsicheren be held, said a ministry spokesman.

Even the less dangerous form of bird flu could become a highly disease develop, founded Ministry spokesman Gert Hahne reintroduction be kept indoors.

In Lower Saxony, are, according to the Ministry a total of 82 million pieces of poultry kept. Problems with the requirement would stall experience has mainly hobby farmers whose poultry flock on the expiry of the chicken farm was missing, said the ministry spokesman. Unlike the H5N1 pathogen for humans H5N2 was harmless.

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/656/451370/text/

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Germany: LP Avian Flu in Turkeys; H5N3

OIE-reports: H5N3

- snips -

Follow-up report No. 1

Start date 02/10/2008

Date of first confirmation of the event 09/10/2008

Report date 12/12/2008

Date submitted to OIE 12/12/2008

Reason for notification First occurrence of a listed disease

Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus

Serotype H5N3

Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)



H5 confirmed, low pathogenicity confirmed, N1 excluded, further investigations concerning N-type ongoing .

http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7610

[Giuseppe]

Re: Germany: LP Avian Flu in Turkeys; H5N3

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

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Germany

Information received on 12/12/2008 from Prof. Dr. Werner Zwingmann, Ministerialdirigent, Head of dep. animal health and food hygiene, Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection(BMELV) , Bonn, Germany

? Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 1
Start date 02/10/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 09/10/2008
Report date 12/12/2008
Date submitted to OIE 12/12/2008
Reason for notification First occurrence of a listed disease
Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N3
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports
* Immediate notification (17/10/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 1 (12/12/2008)

? New outbreaks
* Outbreak 1 (03453A080123) - Garrel, Cloppenburg, NIEDERSACHSEN
Date of start of the outbreak 09/12/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
* Birds - 8400 - 45 - 0 - 8400 - 0
Affected population H5 confirmed, low pathogenicity confirmed, N1 excluded, further investigations concerning N-type ongoing

? Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
* Birds - 0.54% - 0.00% - 0.00% - 100.00%
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

? Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
* Unknown or inconclusive

? Epidemiological comments
Vaccination is forbidden for poultry, it is only allowed for zoo birds.

? Control measures
Measures applied
* Control of wildlife reservoirs
* Movement control inside the country
* Screening
* Zoning
* Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
* Modified stamping out
* Vaccination prohibited
* No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
* No other measures

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

<cite cite="http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7610" >WAHID Interface - OIE World Animal Health Information Database</cite>

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

OIE-report says: H5N3.

However even today German newspapers mention H5N2.

For instance:

Bird flu: Already 34 000 turkeys killed


In the fight against the avian influenza outbreak Cloppenburg district, the authorities in the city meanwhile Garrel 34 000 fattening can kill. Overall, the herds of twelve plants with a total of 190 000 animals examined. In the Mastputenbest?nden was little contagious influenza virus H5N2 detected. It is a mild form of bird flu, which is designated as avian influenza. As the virus was introduced, has not yet been fixed. Wild birds may come as a disease vector in question. For the physical damage comes to the animal health fund.

dpa

appeared on 13 December 2008

http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2008/12/13/990087.html

[gsgs]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

google news Germany has 8 hits for H5N2, zero hits for H5N3

[Shiloh]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

Source: http://www1.ndr.de/nachrichten/niede...grippe118.html

Google translation:
Lower Saxony
Bird flu in the district of Cloppenburg spreads

Following the discovery of several bird flu cases in the Lower Saxony Garrel in recent days has been in four other farms in the county of Cloppenburg a dangerous human influenza virus detected. It informed the county on Saturday with. Affected were a total of 58,000 turkeys from farms in Garrel and B?sel, which now will be killed immediately. In recent days had already infected a total of 43,000 turkeys had been killed.

Mild form of bird flu

The head of the Veterinary Office Cloppenburg, Karl-Wilhelm Paschertz, said the virus spread showed a high tendency. Found the H5N2 influenza virus - a mild form of bird flu, by the veterinarians usually referred to as avian influenza - and not the highly aggressive virus H5N1, which is also dangerous for humans can be.

Kept indoors as a precaution

In the whole of Lower Saxony is already since Friday again kept indoors. The Ministry of Agriculture ordered that no chickens, ducks and other poultry outdoors more may be held. It should prevent wild birds the disease introduction, according to the ministry in Hanover. It should everything be done to further prevent infections.

Expanded restricted zones

In Garrel was after the first cases an exclusion zone set up. In the Neuausbr?chen are the particulars of the district, according to two farms within the restricted zone around a farm in a small distance from it and a Mastanlage in B?sel, approximately twelve miles away from the current disease activity. The exclusion zone was extended in Garrel, in B?sel was a new set. Meanwhile, veterinarians continued the investigation of poultry stocks in the restricted areas continued. Through its extension must now further 14 establishments checked, said a spokesman for the district.

Minister Urges: allow vaccinations

County Commissioner Hans Eveslage said it would make all arrangements to supply in the event of a further spread the disease quickly and consistently to be able to act. How the virus arrived in the stocks that is still unclear. Agriculture Minister Hans-Heinrich Ehlen (CDU) said, against a further spreading of bird flu variant was prompted quick action. "We need all possible in the shortest possible time to get up." It should go quickly, so you can quickly give complacency. The minister also called for a vaccination to control admit to the disease.

Economic losses of farmers uncertain

The district Cloppenburg belongs to the strongholds of poultry production in Lower Saxony. Altogether there in the county twelve million pieces of poultry, of which three million turkeys, said a district spokesman. How much economic harm to farmers that is unclear. However, the animal health fund to pay for at least the official veterinary arranged by the killings.
Stand: 13.12.2008 17:02

[Shiloh]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

Source: http://www.pr-inside.com/de/vogelgri...us-r966983.htm
Googel translation:

Six new cases in the district of Cloppenburg at the weekend - Already 100 000 animals killed
Bird flu spreads

Cloppenburg (ddp-NRD). The bird flu in the county in the Lower Saxony Putenmastbetrieben takes Cloppenburg always continue to. Alone at the weekend was the low pathogenic for humans are not dangerous virus in six other animal herds found, including two more farms on Sunday evening, as a spokesman for the district announced.
In recent days had already been around 100 000 infected animals by gassing with carbon dioxide to the stables had been killed. For four farms could reportedly on Saturday will be complacency. For prevention was a part of the circle Neueinstallung the area of poultry is prohibited.
The virus continues to show a high tendency spread, said the head of the Veterinary Office Cloppenburg, Karl-Wilhelm Paschertz, on Sunday. It was still in all cases to a human influenza virus is not dangerous and not the dangerous H5N1 variant. How it came into the stocks, was still unclear. Infected herds were immediately killed. Through cooperation with the Task Force of the State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (Laves) and the Gefl?gelseuchenvorsorgesellschaft (GESEVO) have the county have the necessary capacity to the stock killings quickly, so Paschertz. In the Neuausbr?chen on Saturday would be around two farms in the municipality in the Garrel already established an exclusion zone and adjacent farm. The fourth Mastanlage is about twelve miles away in the municipality B?sel. In the four stocks were a total of 58 000 turkeys affected. On Sunday evening was the infection of two other big turkey farms with a total of 84 000 animals officially confirmed. The district Cloppenburg have therefore the exclusion zone to the whole municipality of Garrel and B?sel and to the State Forestry district of the city of Cloppenburg expanded, said the spokesman. All poultry stocks in this area would be under official observation. Veterinarians, the study of poultry stocks in the restricted areas continued. Through its extension had another 14 companies reviewed, said the spokesman. At the same time, the poultry industry expanded its testing program. By prohibiting the Neueinstallung of poultry is the area between the Channel coast in the north, the western and eastern border district and the federal 213/Landstra?e 836 in the south affected. The ban applies to all types of poultry. With this measure should be a thinning of poultry stocks reached to allow the virus to evade the breeding ground, said County Commissioner Hans Eveslage. They had to balance between the need for revenue shortfalls through the Einstallverbot keeper and the huge economic damage, the further spread of the disease after the draw, so Eveslage. Since Friday are experts of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute spot to the epidemiological studies to support it. In Lower Saxony, more than 75 million laying hens, chickens and other poultry. (Reuters)

[Shiloh]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

Source: http://www.nwzonline.de/index_region...php?id=1875826

Google translation:
Bird flu reaches well
county Oldenburg
STI / LAI

GARRELS / WILDHAUS - The bird flu is spreading in poultry sheds in the district of Cloppenburg further and has now also on the border county of Oldenburg exceeded. In Ahlhorn (community Gro?enkneten) is a turkey farmer affected, in whose stables plant some 28,000 animals are kept. "We go from one infected with the Human harmless influenza A virus from," said district veterinary Jochen Vahrenhorst. The official investigation result is however still pending. The animals were on late Tuesday evening getl?tet.

Cloppenburg in the county is that people are not contagious bird flu virus so far in a total of 14 Putenmastbest?nden officially established. Are affected farms in the municipalities and B?sel Garrel and a stall in the district Friesoythe Gehlen mountain, told the county with Cloppenburg.

The detailed report on Wednesday read in your NWZ.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

For the first time duck flock affected by bird flu

CLOPPENBURG - Following the outbreak of bird flu in Lower Saxony are the first turkey Ducks also positive for the H5N3 virus have been tested. "The fact that it is now also in ducks was discovered, makes an investigation of all animals necessary, "said the head of the Veterinary Office District of Cloppenburg, Karl-Wilhelm Paschertz, on Wednesday. According to County Commissioner Hans Eveslage (CDU) To date there are 15 of the 200 farms in the affected zone. 270,000 animals were already been killed.

Apart from 210,000 animals in outbreaks and suspected farms were, according to Eveslage further 60,000 birds on farms killed by the same staff as in infected flocks managed.

The risk of a mutation of the mild and harmless to human form of bird flu to
an aggressive type guess he is currently a minor. "We have until now no evidence that it has come to mutations, "said Paschertz. So far the virus from
only farms in the district of Cloppenburg affected. There were restricted areas, and all poultry flocks investigated.

The removal of dead animals had been assured, Eveslage said. "Disposal bottlenecks there are up just yet. "If the virus does not spread rapidly, either the elimination animal carcasses guaranteed. Otherwise you will the farmers to compost the dead animals in the stables propose.

http://www.nwzonline.de/index_regionalausgaben_ticker_artikel.php?id=1877010

[Giuseppe]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

ECDC Health Content: LOW PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA TYPE A (H5) ? ANIMAL HEALTH - GERMANY

LOW PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA TYPE A (H5) ? ANIMAL HEALTH - GERMANY

OIE Report 12th December 2008
Three outbreaks of low pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) of the subtype a(H5) (more specifically A(H5N3)) have been reported to the OIE by the German authorities in turkey fattening holdings in the region of Lower Saxony, after being detected during routine testing.

The control measures already applied to contain the outbreaks include the control of wildlife reservoirs, screening, zoning, disinfection of infected premises and destruction and disposal of carcases.

Further epidemiological and laboratory investigations are ongoing.

OIE Report http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?...&reportid=7610

ECDC comment:
The strain of avian influenza identified in these outbreaks is of the H5 type but it is classed as low pathogenic in birds. Low pathogenic avian influenza can occasionally convert to a highly pathogenic form but that cannot happen here and produce an A(H5N1) type as the N1 subtype has been specifically excluded. The risk to human health are therefore very low.

The conclusions from ECDC risk assessments is that most A(H5) avian influenza viruses to date are poorly adapted to humans and hence have limited ability to transmit from birds to humans. However past incidents and have demonstrated the zoonotic potential that some low pathogenic viruses can present to humans (1, 2), and hence it is prudent that those that may have been exposed to the virus take precautions to limit the potential risk of infection which are essentially the same as for highly pathogenic avian influenza.(3, 4)

1. Influenza team (ECDC). Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenzas and human health. Euro Surveill. 2007;12(22):pii=3209. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...ArticleId=3209
2. Editorial team. Avian influenza A/(H7N2) outbreak in the United Kingdom. Euro Surveill. 2007;12(22):pii=3206. Available online:http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...ArticleId=3206

<cite cite="http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/health_content/episu/081218_av_ah.aspx">ECDC Health Content</cite>

[Shiloh]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

Source: http://www1.ndr.de/nachrichten/niede...grippe130.html

Google translation:
Lower Saxony
Bird flu detected in 18 farms

In the district of Cloppenburg are now 18 establishments affected by bird flu. Moreover, there is another suspected case on a farm with 15,000 turkeys in Garrel, said the spokesman for the district, Ansgar Meyer, on Thursday in Cloppenburg. The fear that the disease was on the circle Oldenburg had expanded, but not confirmed. The National Authority for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES) was in the Ahlhorn samples taken no flu viruses can be identified. There was a complacency but not yet.

Samples from Ahlhorn be further investigated

According to the circle, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute on the island of Riems Ahlhorn from the samples a second time to investigate. The results will be available next week. "The probability is low but only that they from those of the LAVES deviate," said county spokesman Oliver Galeotti. Fortunately lies within a radius of one kilometer around the affected farm no more fattening. Therefore, the authorities are currently only a few neighbors to check the privately held individual chickens.
So far, nearly 300,000 animals killed

Before about two weeks in the district of Cloppenburg was a mild form of bird flu has been detected. Nearly 300,000 animals have been killed in Lower Saxony. So far had only a suspicion confirmed in 15 farms. The chairman of the poultry industry in Lower Saxony, Wilhelm Hoffrogge estimates by the bird flu caused damage to a three-digit million amount.
Stand: 18.12.2008 17:01

[Shiloh]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

Source: http://www.nwzonline.de/index_region...php?id=1880351

Google translation:
Bird flu has focused on
23 holdings expanded

CLOPPENBURG - The bird flu in the district of Cloppenburg has now expanded to 23 farms. On Sunday confirmed the suspicion on three other farms in Garrel. The animals had already been killed precaution, shared with the county.

Already on Saturday the authorities had 17,500 turkeys in Friesoythe gasify and a new exclusion zone set up. Since the outbreak of bird flu two weeks ago in Lower Saxony are some 300,000 animals had been killed. For them it was for innocuous human flu virus H5N3 detected.

In some parts of the circle may be farmers from Tuesday to back new chickens in their stalls bring. The front of more than a week Neueinstallungsverbot is imposed, according to authorities outside the restricted zones eased. The flu virus had so far only occurred turkeys and ducks, broilers were opposed by the disease is not affected.

The detailed report read on Monday in your NWZ.

[Shiloh]

Re: Low pathogenic bird flu in Germany (H5N3)

Source: http://www.mdr.de/sachsen-anhalt/6009702.html

Google translation:

Quedlinburg
Mild form of bird flu detected in the Harz Mountains District

In a poultry flock in Quedlinburg is a mild form of bird flu have been detected. How the Landratsamt circle of resin on Monday announced in Halberstadt, were All 170 animals - geese, ducks and chickens - a precaution killed.

Few infectious variant

Since it is according to initial investigations a little contagious to humans and harmless influenza variant involved, was initially only a restricted zone with a radius of one kilometer has been established. Within this zone have also been reported in poultry flocks precaution other samples. To virus variant which is exactly in Quedlinburg, however, has not yet been determined, according to the authorities. As a spokeswoman of the District Administration said that such investigations are underway in the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute on the Baltic island of Riems instead. Was also unclear in what way the animals were infected