Belgium - Low Pathogenic Avian Flu (H3N1) hits dozens of poultry farms

[Gert van der Hoek]

West Flanders in Belgium

wikipedia

May 10, 2019

Since the beginning of April, a few dozen poultry farms have been affected by a mild bird flu virus that is harmless to human health. That is reported by Federal Minister of Agriculture Denis Ducarme. The farms are mainly located in West Flanders. Together with the sector, the government is working on measures to curb the further spread of the disease. Animals infected or showing symptoms of the virus will be slaughtered. The poultry farmers involved will be compensated. "This disease poses no risk to the safety of the food chain," the cabinet of Minister Ducarme emphasizes once again.

The minister emphasizes that the virus in question is "completely harmless to human health". Moreover, the virus in question - bird flu virus of the H3 type - is not on the list of regulated and notifiable diseases. The virus can cause symptoms in poultry, ranging from a fall in production to the death of the animal. Currently 35 poultry farms have been affected. The H3 strain was confirmed for 27 of them. The Food Agency has been asked to coordinate control and to work out a proposal to prevent disease spread by culling.



Strain = H3N1 (source)

 

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Press release (09/05/2019)

Presence of a low pathogenic virus in poultry farms.
The FASFC and the FPS Public Health, in consultation with the sector, finalize the necessary measures to protect animal health.

Poultry farms, most of them in West Flanders, have been affected since the beginning of April by an influenza virus type H3.

This low pathogenic virus is totally harmless to human health. It is not on the list of regulated and notifiable diseases. It can, however, cause symptoms in poultry ranging from a decline in production to the death of the animal.

To date, 35 poultry farms are affected. For 27 of them, strain H3 has already been confirmed.

To preserve animal health and at the request of the Minister of Agriculture Denis DUCARME, the Directorate General Animals, Plants and Food of the FPS Public Health, in consultation with the agricultural sector and in collaboration with the FASFC is actively preparing a ministerial order including measures necessary to stem the spread of the disease.

The biosecurity of poultry farms will be strengthened throughout the country and poultry on farms infected by the virus and in which poultry with clinical symptoms will be slaughtered.

All arrangements are also made to ensure the compensation of the farmers concerned.
This disease poses no risk to the safety of the food chain or to consumers.

The FPS Public Health and the FASFC are following the situation closely and staying in touch with the sector in order to better inform it.
...
http://www.favv.be/professionnels/publications/presse/2019/2019-05-09.asp

 

[Pathfinder]

Non notifiable Avian Influenza H3

Belgium

PAFF Committee 13 May 2019

Timeline
? First case detected in January 2019
? In the framework of the avian influenza surveillance programme
? Flock of outdoor laying hens
? LPAI H3N1, but brain was positive in PCR
? Depopulation on initiative of the farmer
? 6 April: the same farm is infected again
? Quick rise of the number of cases since last week of April

Current situation
? 36 cases of non H5/H7 avian influenza confirmed by PCR
? 31 cases of H3 of which 6 already confirmed as H3N1
? 5 cases with low virus load couldn?t be typed up until now

Clinical symptoms
? Eggshell defects (discoloring)
? Depression
? Severe drop in egg production
? Severe drop in feed intake
? Increasing mortality (25-30%), up to 60%
? Sometimes slowly spreading
? Sometimes no clinical symptoms at all
...
The virus
? Avian influenza virus H3N1
? IVPI 0.13 : low pathogenic
? Genetically related to a strain isolated from a
wild bird in the Netherlands 2017

Not notifiable

Epidemiological investigation
? Clustering of cases in the provinces of West Flanders
and East Flanders
? No common link between the affected farms
? No common other pathogen that causes the disease
(IB, E. coli, ?)
? Farms with breeders, laying hens, broilers and meat
turkeys
? H3 confirmed: 13 breeders, 15 laying hens, 3 turkeys
...

Measures (to be) taken
? No specific legislation in place
? Temporary legal measures are considered:
? Culling of the affected flocks with compensation?
? Slaughtering of the healthy flocks in the affected farms?
? Cleaning and disinfection of the affected farms
? No repopulation for at least 21 days
? Biosecurity measures
...
https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/animals/docs/reg-com_ahw_20190513_lpai_bel.pdf