Avian Influenza News

• Satellite-marked waterfowl reveal migratory connection between H5N1 outbreak areas in China and Mongolia published on Jul 01, 2009
  One bar-headed goose and two ruddy shelducks marked with satellite transmitters migrated from Qinghai, China to breeding grounds near H5N1 outbreak areas in Mongolia.
• Characterization of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus derived from Wild Pikas in China published on Jun 29, 2009
  HPAI H5N1 virus discovered in pikas at Qinghai, China
• Migration of Whooper Swans and Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus in Eastern Asia published on Jun 02, 2009
  "The data collected on whooper swan migration ecology and behaviour, coupled with the timing of H5N1 outbreaks and the relative poultry density at the outbreak locations, suggest the species has been a victim, rather than vector of disease transmission in eastern Asia."
• Anteaters caught (human) H1N1 flu in zoo outbreak, expanding range of wily virus published on Jun 02, 2009
  Humans, horses, dogs, whales, seals, birds, cats, ferrets and even raccoons are known to be susceptible to the tiny eight-gene viruses. Researchers in Tennessee have now added giant anteaters to that list.
• ProMED-mail: China confirms H5N1 in wild birds published on May 20, 2009
  121 wild birds were found and tested positive for HPAI H5N1 in Qinghai province
• Migratory birds in Qinghai: bird flu occurred in 121 dead wild birds published on May 18, 2009
  H5N1 has been detected in the deaths of 121 wild birds in Hainan, Qinghai, China. (Article in Chinese).
• Top flu expert warns of a swine flu-bird flu mix published on May 11, 2009
  Scientists fear the emergence of a virus that combines the features of H1N1 and H5N1.
• WHO scientist: H1N1 swine flu likely developed from bird flu virus published on May 08, 2009
  While the H1N1 flu strain at the heart of latest global epidemic did evolve in swine, its ancestors came from waterfowl, says scientist Richard Webby, who has analyzed the viruss genetic code in his position as head of a World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Memphis, Tennessee
• Swine Flu Source Traced to Birds and People; Don't Blame Pigs published on May 04, 2009
  "Swine Flu Source Traced to Birds and People"
• EU's first 2009 bird-flu case found in Germany published on Mar 10, 2009
  The first bird to test positive for H5N1 this year in Europe has been reported from a bird shot in January in Starnberg, Bavaria, Germany.
• Hong Kong birdflu outbreak blamed on wild birds published on Mar 05, 2009
  A government panel concluded the December 2008 H5N1 outbreak in a poultry farm in Hong Kong was "most likely" spread by wild birds.
• Location of confirmed H5 cases in dead birds found in Hong Kong in 2009 published on Feb 09, 2009
  A gray heron and a peregrine falcon are among the seven birds found to be H5N1-positive in Hong Kong, leading to the closure of the Mai Po Nature Reserve for 21 days.
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) in Frozen Duck Carcasses, Germany, 2007. published on Feb 04, 2009
  A retrospective analysis shows that the H5N1 outbreak in backyard duck flocks in Germany in Dec. 2007 that had previously been attributed to wild bird contact was instead due to the use of infected poultry products as feed.
• Bird flu hunters to fly with wild ducks published on Jan 30, 2009
  A USGS project has placed satellite transmitters on ducks in Hong Kong in order to trace their migratory pathways.
• Wild birds likely cause of avian flu outbreak published on Jan 05, 2009
  Droppings from sparrows might have initiated the H5N1 outbreak recently at a farm in Hong Kong.
• Assam bird flu due to migratory birds: Ramadoss published on Dec 02, 2008
  The Indian Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, said that the recent outbreak of H5N1 in poultry in the state of Assam was due to migratory birds.
• Invisible line 'protects Australia from bird flu' published on Dec 02, 2008
  The biological separation that is termed the "Wallace Line" - a demarcation that separates the kinds of animals found in Asia from Australia - may have played a role in preventing the introduction of H5N1 into Australia.
• Saying thanks to the NGOs working in avian and pandemic flu published on Nov 26, 2008
  "As we head into this short Thanksgiving Holiday week, it is a good time to give thanks to those who are out there, trying to make a difference in this battle against the pandemic flu threat. You may know some of these people by name, and some by the organizations they represent, while others you may not be aware of at all..." No wildlife professionals gets mentioned, but you know who you are.
• Avian and Pandemic Influenza: The Global Response published on Nov 26, 2008
  Sometimes accomplishments in avian influenza research have gotten lost in the last few years, so here is a story that reminds us of what has been achieved around the world.
• Genetics Provide Evidence for the Movement of Avian Influenza Viruses from Asia to North America via Migratory Birds published on Oct 27, 2008
  Wild migratory birds may be more important carriers of avian influenza viruses from continent to continent than previously thought, according to new scientific research that has important implications for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus surveillance in North America.
• Duck Migration through Past Influenza A (H5N1) Outbreak Areas published on Jul 01, 2008
  Garganey ducks fitted with satellite transmitters were tracked from Nigeria to Russia, passing through previous H5N1 outbreak areas. "These facts illustrate how a pathogen such as HPAI virus (H5N1) can potentially be transported rapidly by migratory birds across continents." The authors note however, "Despite extensive global wildlife surveillance efforts and with the exception of a few reported cases of HPAI (H5N1) infection in apparently healthy wild ducks, evidence of wild bird involvement in the spread of HPAI virus (H5N1) over long distances is still lacking."
• Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Pakistan (Immediate notification: 6/26/08). published on Jul 01, 2008
  "Contact with wild species" is given as the source or origin of the recent H5N1 outbreak at a commercial poultry farm in Pakistan.
• Ramsar plans wetland guidelines to halt spread of bird flu published on Jul 01, 2008
  Proposed changes to the Ramsar Convention this fall will facilitate sampling of wild birds to monitor for H5N1. Countries party to the convention will be encouraged to report species information on wild birds affected by bird flu.
• UN Cites Progress in Combating Avian Flu published on Jun 18, 2008
  David Nabarro, the UN official in charge of coordinating efforts to stop the spread of avian influenza, says progress is being made but the threat continues and he notes that the disease is endemic in five countries.
• Scientists to hunt down new viruses before they strike published on Jun 17, 2008
  Goggle has announced a "predict and prevent" program to identify animal pathogens and predict outbreaks around the world.
• Bird flu outbreak reported in North Korea, South Korean aid group says published on Jun 11, 2008
  Bird flu has broken out near a North Korean military base in the first reported case of the disease in the country since 2005, a South Korean aid group said Wednesday.The outbreak occurred last week near an air force base in Jongpyong county in South Hamgyong province, northeast of the capital Pyongyang.
• Hong Kong Acts to Curb Avian Virus published on Jun 11, 2008
  Hong Kong authorities announced Wednesday that they planned to kill all poultry in the territory's retail markets because of fears of a dangerous bird flu outbreak after detecting H5N1 at a market stall in the Kowloon area.
• Test shows bird flu in hens published on Jun 11, 2008
  A sample taken last week from a hen flock destroyed near West Fork tested positive for avian influenza in the laboratory, the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission said Monday. About 15, 000 breeder hens owned by Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc. were killed and buried last week after tests showed some had developed antibodies connected with a mild form of avian influenza, or bird flu.
• H5N1 avian flu: Call for wild bird early warning system published on Jun 11, 2008
  Bernard Matthews Foods has urged the UK government and poultry industry to work together in establishing an early warning system for migratory birds that may carry H5N1 avian flu.
• Bird flu detected in Hong Kong market published on Jun 06, 2008
  Hong Kong health workers slaughtered 2,700 poultry in a market Saturday after chickens were found to be carrying the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus, officials said.
• Bird flu can mix with human influenza virus: research published on Jun 06, 2008
  Now scientists at the Centers for Disease Control in the United States have proven that the very deadly H5N1 virus can also mix with human flu.
• Bird flu search finds none yet coming to N.America published on Jun 05, 2008
  The feared H5N1 avian influenza has yet to make it to North America in the bodies of migrating birds, researchers said on Thursday.Testing of more than 16,000 migratory birds between May 2006 and March 2007 showed no evidence of the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has become entrenched in many parts of Asia and which regularly pops up in flocks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
• Bird flu search finds none yet coming to N.America published on Jun 05, 2008
  The feared H5N1 avian influenza has yet to make it to North America in the bodies of migrating birds, researchers said on Thursday.Testing of more than 16,000 migratory birds between May 2006 and March 2007 showed no evidence of the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has become entrenched in many parts of Asia and which regularly pops up in flocks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
• Bird Flu Back in Britain published on Jun 04, 2008
  The Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, has today confirmed Avian Influenza in chickens on premises near Banbury in Oxfordshire after preliminary tests were positive for the H7 strain. All birds on the premises will be slaughtered as a precautionary measure.
• Record year for Bird Flu at swannery published on May 28, 2008
  Over 600 cygnets are expected at the Abbotsbury Swannery, where the surprisingly mild H5N1 outbreak in January have led scientist to believe the swans may have developed immunity to the virus and may have passed the protection onto the cygnets.
• Scientists identify second H7 strain of bird flu that could cause pandemic published on May 28, 2008
  The H5N1 strain of bird flu that has killed 241 people is not the only one that could trigger a pandemic, according to research in America. A few H7 strains of the flu virus have started to evolve some of the traits they would need to infect people easily, scientists have discovered.
• North American bird flu viruses becoming more adapted to humans: study published on May 26, 2008
  North American avian flu viruses of the H7 subtype - like the H7N3 viruses responsible for British Columbia's massive poultry outbreak in 2004 - seem to have adapted to more easily invade the human respiratory tract, a new American study suggests.The adaptation is still only partial and the findings do not suggest the viruses are imminently poised to trigger a pandemic. But experts say they underscore the fact that H7 flu viruses need to be watched and studied."I think this is certainly amongst the most dangerous (avian flu) viruses out there," said virologist Dr. Ron Fouchier, with the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
• Local Bird Flu Virus Matches Strain Found in Japan published on May 22, 2008
  Similarity in the genetic sequence between H5N1 viruses in poultry in South Korea and in wild birds in Japan has led to the suggestion that migratory birds on their way north from Southeast Asia may be involved in the spread of the disease.
• H5N1 bird flu found in dead swan in Hokkaido published on May 12, 2008
  A third H5N1 outbreak, this time involving a whooper swan in Lake Saroma in Hokkaido has been found.
• Japan OIE Immediate Notification Report. 4/29/08. published on May 05, 2008
  H5N1 has been found in four swans near lake Towada, Akita Prefecture, in Japan.