Avian Influenza watch.

The bird flu virus continues to cause havoc in poultry around the world and in certain cases death in humans have been recorded.The bird flu virus strains detected in poultry around the world varies across board,new strains have been detected that are of varying pathogenicity. The H5N1 infection in Egypt has been on the increase,but there has not been any significant genetic mutation in the flu strain to explain rise in human infection. Its known that the bird flu virus can mutate easily,cross species and result in a very pathogenic strain that can cause death in man and other species. The fight to stop bird flu virus is on going ,and all measures are geared towards enhanced bio security. The prevention / control of bird flu is done broadly on 2 level; hygiene and isolation. The bird flu virus is real, prevent it. The effort to stop the virus is communal; everybody must be involved, be alert. Notify vet authorities if you notice high mortality in poultry farm or live bird markets, raise an alarm if you notice people processing dead birds, or transporting dead birds, or dumping dead birds on street corners. The law enforcement agents should be on the look-out for individuals who are in possession of dead birds,such cases demand instant notification. The virus can be stopped in its track with these measures, but if we turn away /turn the other eye then we are courting trouble. Be proactive! stop bird flu virus!

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.

STOP THE BIRD FLU VIRUS! 1) Avoid contact with dead poultry, wild birds and strange birds of unknown origin. 2)Avoid contact with droppings of poultry, prevent contamination of poultry feed and water. 3)Wash hands immediately after handling birds. 4) Stay away from bird sanctuaries,parks and gardens where various bird species are kept. 5)Respect quarantine notifications on farms and areas around quarantined zones. 6)Do not smuggle in birds from other countries to yours. 7) Do not attempt to cover-up infection on farms or markets; notify the vet authorities. 8) Proper disposal of affected birds are essential. 9) Enhance bio-security measures on the farm, live bird markets and areas around these sites. The bird flu virus can be stopped by active surveillance, enhanced bio-security and practice hygiene and isolation. BE PROACTIVE! STOP BIRD FLU VIRUS!.

BIRD FLU IN THE NEWS.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is currently affecting poultry in some countries and causing death in some others. The bird flu virus H7N9 has killed 2 people in China,Egypt has recorded the 3rd death in 2015. Libya has also recorded 4 human cases resulting in death, 3 of the victims died in Tripoli while the 4th person died in Tobruk ,across border to Egypt. Taiwan battles the worst H5N2 infection, H5N3 and H5N8,this has led to culling of over 112,375 ducks,geese and chicken. The flu virus has also caused mortality in poultry in Kano,Lagos and also a zoo in V.G.C, the birds have been culled and farm decontaminated and quarantined. The bird flu virus has been detected on 2 farms in Belize,Spain due to active surveillance. The birds on the affected farms showed mild clinical signs of avian influenza virus, but on analyzing the samples, the bird flu virus was confirmed. The agricultural and health services department have encouraged commercial and backyard farmers to step up their bio-security protocol, and notify the authorities of any unusual signs in poultry. BE PROACTIVE! BE ALERT! STOP BIRD FLU VIRUS! USE VIRKON® S,IN BIO-SECURITY PROTOCOL.

BIRD FLU WATCH.

H7N9 kills 2 people in China,Taiwan battles worst H5N2 outbreak and Egypt report 3rd bird flu death in 2015. The ever changing bird flu virus makes it a potential global threat in terms of economic loss and also death of man. The capacity of the virus to mutate enables it to cross species and cause fulminating infection in these species, this is the reason why it poses a pandemic threat. The bird flu virus infection has been linked to wild birds/waterbirds and migratory birds which act as reservoir .The key prevention will be to keep wild birds away from poultry.These can be achieved as by the following measures ; do not handle birds of unknown origin, dont touch dead birds, wash hands immediately after handling poultry, do not buy processed birds from unknown origin, if you observe high mortality in poultry in your area notify vet authorities in your area. The surveillance of live bird markets, farms and control/border points are paramount in the preventive measure. BE ALERT! BE PROACTIVE ! STOP BIRD FLU VIRUS!.

AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has made its entrance into Nigeria,making its first appearance in Kano. The bird flu virus has been linked to cases of high mortality in poultry birds in 4 local government involving 10 farms. The affected farms have been quarantined, the birds destroyed and surveillance of farms and live bird market in the area is on-going, also an alert has been sent to other states in a bid to curb spread of virus. The bird flu virus crossed states to make a second appearance in Lagos state, the virus is believed to have made its way during the yuletide season when birds came into the state from the north. The resurgence of bird flu in Lagos occurred on a poultry farm in Badore area ,in Ajah. The virus killed most of the flock, the others have been destroyed and farm quarantined. There has also been high mortality in ducks, emu, geese in a zoological garden in V.G.C.,the garden is under surveillance as samples have been sent for confirmation. The resurgence of the bird flu in the country has been tackled with the following measures; 1) enhanced bio- security protocol on farms,live bird market, and poultry houses. 2) Active search surveillance. 3) Education of farmers and workers in poultry farms. 4) Disinfection/decontamination of farms and market. The bird flu virus occurred in Kano in 2006,2007,2008 and now 2015.The route of infection and perpetuation of the virus has been linked to migratory birds en-route that region,having access to water in farms,feed and contamination of bedding, as the virus shed in dropping of migratory bird is a contamination foci for domestic birds . The sanitary status on farms is also a factor in the spread. The feces of birds in contaminated farms should be disposed off and not as compost for fertilizer. The key to stopping the virus is high sanitary hygiene on farms, sheltering poultry to keep them away from wild birds, covering reservoir tanks of water to prevent contamination,also it will be necessary to give treated water on farms.This is another reason to incorporate VIRKON® S, in your bio-security protocol, to treat water on farm,to disinfect the farm equipment and use in foot dip. BE PROACTIVE! STEP UP BIO-SECURITY PROTOCOL! USE VIRKON® S.

H5N3.

A new strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza ;H5N3 has been detected in 2 goose farms in southern Taiwan.The new strain identified 16/1/15 in these farms are thought to have been transmitted to the birds by migratory birds. The animal health authorities have issued a disease control measure response to the outbreaks, with all poultry slaughter houses ordered to stop operation for 2 days to carry out sterilization of equipment. A response plan should include: enhanced bio- security protocol, surveillance and monitoring of global progress of the virus to provide opportunity for proactive risk management, and also early detection,reporting and surveillance of the virus. The HPAI virus is on the move affecting poultry of various species, affecting man in some countries resulting in some deaths, all hands must be on deck to stop the virus. BE PROACTIVE! STOP THE HPAI VIRUS.