FRANCE HIT BY FIRST BIRD FLU OUTBREAK IN 8 YEARS.

The highly pathogenic bird flu virus H5N1 has been discovered on a farm in Dordogne,where it killed 75% of birds on the farm . A 10km surveillance radius has been established around farm to prevent spread to other poultry farms.The agriculture minister confirmed the outbreak,and south Korea has banned importation of poultry from France. The virus is deadly and spreads easily if bio security protocols are not enforced, hand washing after handling birds is very important.read more here; http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/France-hit-by-first-bird-flu-outbreak-in-eight-years/?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=30-Nov-2015&c=KviYxCjZMiXfdfZP1fvhvMG3x5RsDoMO&p2=

Iraq has ‘chronic’ bird flu problem

Iraq has ‘chronic’ bird flu problem: Iraq’s inability to tackle the cause of bird flu means the deadly virus  is likely to spread across neighbouring countries, according to an expert on animal diseases.

BIRD FLU.

Washington,Oregon activate bird flu alert. 30 countries restricts US poultry. In Germany, a white stork tested positive to H5N8,the stock and 8 other birds in the ROSTOCK ZOO. Three human cases of H7N9 in ZHAOQING. All border control points have implemented health surveillance measures. 2 people diagnosed with bird flu in egypt as @ 6/1/2015,the human cases upticks in Egypt. Bio security measures up scaled in farms,markets and control points.Airport surveillance also in place,passengers coming into country from AI zones are using masks and are monitored. Citizens are advised about safety measures such as; avoiding crowded zones.Covering mouth when sneezing and coughing.washing and cleaning surfaces with disinfectants, washing hands constantly especially after handling poultry products.

ITS IN OUR HANDS; STOP BIRD FLU.

The power to stop the bird flu virus lies in our hands; practice good hygiene,isolation of affected victims, quarantine and depopulation of affected farms, cooking of poultry/ poultry products. Wash hands thoroughly when youve handled poultry, do not touch dead birds. Use potent disinfectant as part of your bio-security protocol. IT ALL STARTS WITH YOUR HANDS; TOUCHING# HOLDING# CARRYING# LIFTING# TRANSFER# ; so stop the virus with your hands. ALL hands on deck; use VIRKON® S, and most important key wash hands regularly and sanitize them. HANDS ON! STOP THE BIRD FLU VIRUS!.

Bird flu back in Abuja, 7 states - FG alerts.

Bird flu back in Abuja, 7 states - FG alerts.The Federal Government yesterday alerted the public on the outbreak of Avian Influenza (bird flu) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and seven states. Gideon Mshelbwala, the Director of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, issued the alert at a meeting with state Commissioners of Agriculture in Abuja. Mr. Mshelbwala listed the states affected by the outbreak to include Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Plateau, FCT and Kaduna, which reported a case in May 30. He said the disease had spread across 26 states of the federation and the FCT since it started in 2008, affecting 800 farms in no fewer than 123 local government areas.more

BIRD FLU # AVIAN INFLUENZA.

Avian influenza still trending in certain countries like Ghana,United kingdom,United states,Israel,Taiwan, China and Nigeria.The infections in most countries are of various strain with varied virulence.The outbreaks have been controlled by depopulation of birds in affected farms,fumigation of affected poultry,quarantine of 3km radius for farms in vicinity of affected sites. Farmers are advised to report cases of bird flu to necessary authority.The common signs of bird flu are sudden death,swollen wattles and combs,purplish shanks,ruffled feathers and inappetence. The cases with low virulence normally show ruffled feathers,soft shelled eggs and decrease/absence of egg laying.The virus has been linked to migratory birds and wet waterlogged areas such as areas close to rivers,lakes e.t.c. bio security protocol must be strictly adhered to, the sequence of isolation/quarantine and disinfection must be the rule of thumb in the poultry.The common disinfectants recommended in cases of outbreaks are virkon and virocid,these have been tested and proven to kill the avian influenza virus.

Panic in Plateau over fresh bird flu outbreak .

Poultry farmers in Plateau State have been urged to report any observed disease in their farms due to fresh outbreak of Avian Influenza (bird flu) in the state.The Plateau State Chairman of Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, Mr. John Dasar, who gave the charge yesterday, said reporting diseases observed in their farms on time to relevant agency will help prevent the diseases from unaffected farms. Although the outbreak of bird flu has raised fears among poultry farmers in the state, Dasar called for calm as he urged farmers to reinforce safety measures in their farms to avoid lost of investments. He said: “Three farms have recorded an outbreak: one at Dong village, one at Rukuba Road and at another farm, which I cannot recall now. I also cannot say precisely the number of birds that were affected. “We are working with veterinary doctors and they are working hard to ensure the disease does not spread. That is why I am appealing to all poultry farmers to report any trace of the disease in their farms so that prompt action can be taken to arrest the situation.” source

PREVENTION OF INFECTION WITH BIRD FLU VIRUS IN MAN.

The bird flu virus infection in man can be prevented by observing a simple technique of washing,disinfection , decontamination and wearing protective clothing such as overalls,gloves,boots , googles and nose masks. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING; This is very important for poultry workers, handlers and veterinary officers that are in constant contact with birds of various specie.The protective clothing include boots, aprons,overalls,gloves and hair nets. The protective clothing must be washed and disinfected daily to prevent spread of infection.When there is an incidence,the protective clothing must be discarded.When working in a farm with an outbreak of the bird flu virus,utmost care must be taken to prevent infection.All biosecurity protocol must be observed. HAND WASHING. This is of high importance, hands must be washed and dipped in disinfectants that are potent against major poultry diseases especially avian influenza.Hands are to be washed and disinfected any time you touch/handle poultry. Hand washing should also be encouraged whenever you touch/come in contact with poultry implements,tools and equipment.It is of utmost importance to wash and sanitize any tools or implements that are introduced to your farm. Hand washing and sanitizing is a sure way to stay safe. PROCESSING LIVE POULTRY. Ensure the poultry is clean and not infected.Do not buy dead birds,do not process dead birds. Do not consume under-cooked or un cooked poultry. The exchange of egg crates is also a possible route of infection,thus when you want to buy eggs,ensure crates are clean and hand wash immediately after touching crates. ensure you discard paper crates and always disinfect plastic crates. Hand washing after handling,processing poultry.Sanitizing will go a step further to ensure safety.. Avian influenza can be prevented; Inculcate good hygiene protocol of hand washing and sanitizing every time you touch poultry and handle poultry products.

Bird flu.

The avian influenza virus continues to kill more birds in parts of Asia,Canada and India. More birds have been found dead in poultry farms in Taiwan.The virus is moving, be alert,be proactive. Birds infected with the Newcastle disease virus, show the following signs: coughing, inappetence,drop in egg production,poor shell quality, greenish diarrhoea, paralysis,twisting of head and neck, and it also causes high mortality,also affecting varying ages. Some of these signs are similar to that of BIRD FLU, leading to false diagnosis by some farmers who observe such on their farms. When you have a case with high mortality with the bird flu signs, call your vet.

Bird flu alert as duck in Llanelli found to be infected.

Bird flu alert as duck in Llanelli found to be infected.The first finding of an infectious strain of avian flu in a UK wild bird has been confirmed in Carmarthenshire. The H5N8 strain found in a wild duck at an estuary near the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) Llanelli Wetland Centre is the same which hit a turkey farm in Lincolnshire last week. The centre said it had closed "as a precautionary measure".Rural Affairs Secretary Lesley Griffiths said the risk to humans was "very low" and poultry was safe to eat.The Welsh Government said it was the first time the H5N8 strain had been found in a wild bird in the UK. Restrictions were imposed across Britain to keep birds indoors after the disease came to light across Europe, the Middle East and north Africa.On Tuesday, the measures were tightened to ban any indoor gatherings of birds at events such as livestock fairs, auctions and bird shows.more

Kano advises farmers to report outbreak of bird flu.

Kano advises farmers to report outbreak of bird flu.Kano State Government on Thursday advised poultry farms in the state to report outbreak of bird flu to the appropriate authority for prompt action. Dr Shehu Bawa, the Director, Veterinary services, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.“Prompt and timely report on the outbreak of the disease is very important as it will enable government to take appropriate action,” he said. He advised farmers against taking any fowl to their farms without proper disinfection.“Farmers must take bio-security of their farms serious to ensure the safety of their birds,” Bawa said. He said the state government had taken proactive measures to ensure that the resurfacing of the disease in one of the farms in the state did not spread to other farms.“We are making efforts to check the spread of the disease, which has so far affected only one of the farms in the state.“ Bawa said the government had directed the ministry of Agriculture to submit request for disinfectants and other drugs needed for the control of the disease.continue

Flu vaccine production using tobacco leaves..

The race to stop the flu virus is on with scientists working round the clock to produce a safe,effective and readily available vaccine. In the fore front of the research is a biotech company,medicago that are making flu vaccines from tobacco leaves. Currently, vaccines are produced using a process that involves injecting small bits of flu genes into a chicken egg and allowing them to grow. The current method is slow and production process takes five or six months. Medicago, have a greenhouse where they are planting tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum, better known as smoking tobacco. This Australian plant is native to the desert and has historically been used as a stimulant although it contains less nicotine than standard field tobacco for the purposes of vaccine production. The strong point of the plant is that it matures in just six weeks. The technology inoculates genetic material into the leaves which in turn produces flu-like particles containing antigens and this trigger immune responses. The safety level is high because the particles are not live flu viruses, hence chances of infection are minimal. Once the solution is inside the plant, the virus like particles spend a week growing, after a few days the plants’ leaves become mottled and discolored. At the end of a week, the leaves are picked off each plant by hand for processing into a bulk vaccine. Public reaction has been largely supportive as people like the idea of creating something positive from a plant with such negative stigma, and because , it helps that the vaccine extraction process leaves no residual nicotine. The new vaccines will even be vegan-friendly — some vegans currently avoid egg-based flu vaccines. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, The technique will be put into commercial use in fiscal 2018 or 2019. Mitsubishi Tanabe has all but finished verifying the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines in the U.S. and Canada. The inoculations are set to undergo final clinical trials in the U.S. by the end of this year. If the firm meets its profitability goals, it will consider expanding the project into Asia, according to company President Masayuki Mitsuka. Clinical trials are also being conducted for bird flu and H7 influenza vaccines produced from tobacco leaves. In addition, the company is developing vaccines for rotavirus and for rabies using the same technique.

Poultry market tests spark flu advisory.

Consumers in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, are being urged to avoid contact with live poultry after tests found that more than 30 percent of live poultry markets in the city were contaminated with the H7N9 avian flu virus, according to Guangzhou's disease control authority. Health experts have called for stricter measures to contain the virus to prevent possible outbreaks. Zhang Zhoubin, deputy director of the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said surveillance reports in the past week show that the H7N9 virus exists in about 30 percent of the city's farmers markets that sell live poultry. The Guangzhou government had decided to suspend live poultry trade in all markets from Jan 16 to 18, Feb 16 to 18 and March 16 to 18 as a preventive measure to curb bird flu virus.An assessment report shows that the three-day trade halt in January helped reduce all types of bird flu virus at these markets by at least 60 percent.continue

Hong Kong culls thousands of birds over avian flu scare

Hong Kong culled 4,500 birds on 7/6/16 after the deadly H7N9 bird flu virus was discovered in a chicken at a local market. Health officials in white hazmat suits and masks dumped the chickens into green plastic bins at a wholesale poultry market in central Hong Kong.The bins were then pumped with carbon dioxide to kill the birds. Hong Kong is particularly alert to the spread of viruses after an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome swept through the city in 2003, killing 299 people and infecting around 1,800. Bird flu scares in the past two years have seen mass culls of up 20,000 birds in Hong Kong. A spokeswoman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the latest cull included chickens and pigeons. Trade of live poultry has also been suspended after authorities said Saturday the avian flu virus was found in a fecal sample collected from a chicken at a market in the Tuen Mun, a neighborhood in the west of Hong Kong. The city's health minister Ko Wing-man said the city was staying "stringent" against infectious diseases when he announced the cull late Monday. H7N9 is a particular worry for authorities as it does not kill infected chickens or cause them to develop symptoms, which allows it to spread undetected until contact is made with humans. The majority of human cases of H7N9 infection have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry, according to the World Health Organization. Human infections from the H7N9 strain were first reported in China in 2013. The virus can cause serious respiratory illness and has led to deaths. culled from pri.org

Migrating birds may bring bird flu to North America.

Migrating birds may bring bird flu to North America,according to a report. Influenza is a virus that emerges periodically to cause epidemics in different birds or mammals, like the two types of canine flu now in North America and the recent feline influenza outbreak in New York City. The highly pathogenic influenza strain currently infecting wild birds and domestic poultry in several European countries could be transmitted to birds in North America as migratory flyways of some European and North American wild bird species overlap in the northern reaches of Canada, an expert on influenza viruses and the spread of the virus in animals . According to Colin Parrish, John M. Olin Professor of Virology at the Baker Institute for Animal Health in Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, an expert on influenza viruses and the spread of the virus in animals, the strain circulating among birds in Europe is known as the H5N8 subtype and this particular virus is a highly pathogenic influenza strain that appears to be readily transferred into poultry flocks and other domesticated birds from wild birds. Migratory birds in Europe and in America normally follow separate north-south migratory pathways, and there is normally not much mixing between birds in each region, but there are areas where they come in contact. This virus seems to be quite transmissible, so there's a reasonable possibility that it could be picked up and brought over to the North American flyways. It looks like H5N8 is very effective at transferring from the wild birds into domestic poultry operations, so this raises a concern.

AVIAN INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS.

The governments of Canada and British Columbia are investing CAD$ 300,000 (€200,000) to strengthen the surveillance, early detection, and response measures to avian flu. The funding will be used to enhance the resources at the Ministry of Agriculture's Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford, British Colombia with specialized equipment to diagnose samples collected in the Ministry's avian flu surveillance efforts. The Ministry of Agriculture will also be targeting owners of small poultry flocks by hosting workshops in different regions focusing on poultry health, and the sharing of information and resources such as the Small Flock Poultry Health Manual. Funds will also be used to support a rapid response to any future outbreaks by having mobile equipment to help any infected poultry premises with the humane depopulation of infected bird populations within the province at all times and to train more people in the use. Education about the virus and biosecurity procedures are paramount to prevention and spread of the bird flu virus.The basic clean, wash and disinfection on farms , better management practices and restriction of visitors to farms play vital roles to stem spread of diseases. Early detection/diagnosis is key to prevent incidence in other farms and wide spread infection over a wide radius range to prevent economic losses. Ministry of Agriculture staff began a pilot surveillance project that collected sediment samples at ponds and wetlands used by wild waterfowl following the December 2014 avian flu outbreak in the Fraser Valley. A research group has worked at developing cutting edge technological advances to be able to test the samples collected from the pilot project for the presence of avian flu strains. Funds will be used to transfer this new technology to the Animal Health Centre. As the pilot project evolves into ongoing surveillance, the ability to diagnose the samples quickly at the Animal Health Centre will greatly enhance early detection efforts. Source; portions of story from world poultry.

CURBING THE SPREAD OF HPAI .

The avian influenza virus ravaging poultry in some countries now and death of humans in other countries, has been linked to migratory birds that harbor the virus.The interaction of the migratory birds/ waterfowl/game birds with the domestic birds results in the fulminating HPAI infection. The virus is spread from bird to bird and flock to flock by direct/indirect contact with droppings & secretions and contaminated feed/water. The virus can be stopped by practicing basic bio security protocol, isolation and hand hygiene. The virus can be stopped in the following ways; 1) Curb smuggling of exotic birds into the country. 2) Strict custom regulations concerning import of poultry products/ birds from countries battling with the virus. 3)Enhanced bio-security in farms, live bird markets,and slaughter houses. 4)Avoid contact with infected carcasses and proper disposal of affected birds. 5)Active surveillance of farms/live bird markets/slaughter houses. 6) Early diagnosis and commencement of treatment using Tamiflu,in human subjects. 7)Mass sensitization of citizens on the virus, its mode of spread,signs of infection, and prevention strategies. 8)Hand washing policy in daily activities, the importance should be emphasized to the citizens. 9)Wear protective clothing if you work with birds. 10)wear mask,gloves if you work in an hospital,attending to infected humans. 11) Site poultry away from living quarters. 12)Control human and vehicular traffic to farms. The bird flu can be stopped, lets stop it together. BE PROACTIVE! STOP THE BIRD FLU VIRUS! USE VIRKON® S,ITS A POTENT DISINFECTANT! USE IT NOW! ITS IN YOUR HANDS.

LOCAL BIRDS HIT BY BIRD FLU IN GHANA.

Bird flu hits Ghana ; http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/36053/village-birds-hit-by-avian-flu-in-ghana/

Avian flu: Virus with an Eggshell.

Avian flu: Virus with an Eggshell. Avian flu can be transmitted from birds to humans; transmission among humans, however, is limited. The reason may be an eggshell-like mineral layer that the virus acquires due to the high calcium concentration in the intestines of birds. As reported by Chinese researchers in the journal Angewandte Chemie, these mineralized viruses are significantly more infectious and, in addition, more robust and heat stable than the native viruses. Avian flu is a highly infectious disease among birds that has developed into a serious threat to human health. Close contact with diseased birds or their feces is considered to be the primary source of infections in humans. Transmission between humans is limited, however, which indicates that these viruses cannot directly infect humans. Previously it was assumed that these viruses crossed the species barrier as a result of mutation or recombination with another pathogen. More recent results demonstrate that avian flu viruses isolated from infected humans have the same gene sequences as those from birds.Avian flu: Virus with an Eggshell. So how is it that humans catch the disease from birds? Researchers working with Ruikang Tang at Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China) claim that it is because the viruses acquire a mineral "shell" in the bird intestines. They discovered that viruses can become mineralized under calcium-rich conditions. Naturally, the digestive tract of birds--the primary location of avian flu viruses--provides just such a calcium-rich environment, so that the birds can make egg shells.Avian flu: Virus with an Eggshell. Experiments with a solution that imitates the bird intestine environment allowed the researchers to demonstrate that 5 to 6 nm shells of a calcium phosphate mineral form around H9N2 and H1N1 viruses. In both cell cultures and mice, these mineralized viruses proved to be significantly more infectious--and deadly--than the native viruses. In humans, avian flu viruses infect the airways and are then found in bodily fluids, where the calcium concentration is too low for mineralization.

Rare bird flu strain infects cats.

A rare strain of the avian influenza virus has infected 45 cats in Manhattan and there are concerns that the virus may have spread to recently adopted felines.The virus is thought to pose a low risk to humans but health officials are concerned that it could have infected additional cats that have already been adopted from Animal Care Center’s Manhattan shelter. "Although this strain of the avian flu has only resulted in mild to moderate illness in some cats located in one shelter, we have begun to test staff and people in close contact with the cats out of an abundance of caution," said First Deputy Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. "We will continue to actively monitor all people involved and adapt our response accordingly." One older infected cat, who had underlying health problems, died, officials said. The Health Department and ACC are working on a quarantine facility to house the cats while the Manhattan shelter is disinfected. They urge anyone who adopted Manhattan shelter cats in the past month to call the Health Department for care instructions and to keep their cat separated from other animals if they show signs of persistent cough, lip smacking, runny nose, and fever. Officials are also advising these pet owners to call the Health Department if they develop fever with a sore throat, fever with a cough, or red, inflamed eyes.The outbreak marks the first time the virus - H7N2 has been detected and transmitted among domestic cats. It is unknown how the cats contracted the virus.The shelter has tested 20 dogs and none have contracted this virus. Testing of other animals, including rabbits and guinea pigs, is ongoing. According to the Health Department, there have been only two documented human cases of this type of avian influenza and both patients recovered.culled from http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/rare-bird-flu-strain-infects-45-cats-single-manhattan-shelter-article-1.2912367.