Avian Influenza News

• Mutant bird flu in poultry delivered on wild wings published on Sep 22, 2011
  
• Bird Flu rears its head again: Increased preparedness and surveillance urged against variant strain published on Aug 30, 2011
  FAO today urged heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly Bird Flu virus is spreading in Asia and beyond, with unpredictable risks to human health.
• Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - WHO update 4 published on May 13, 2011
  Epidemiological investigation of a human H5N1 case in Indonesia has identified exposure to wild bird faeces found around the house as a possible risk factor.
• May 13, 2011: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan, (Follow-up report No. 10) published on May 13, 2011
  A goshawk and a tufted duck have been confirmed to be infected with HPAI H5N1.
• published on Mar 29, 2011
  
• 03/03/2011: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan, (Follow-up report No. 7) published on Mar 03, 2011
  Seven new H5N1 outbreaks in wild birds have been reported in Japan. Six different species in five different prefectures are involved.
• 02/24/2011: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan, (Follow-up report No. 6) published on Feb 24, 2011
  17 outbreak of H5N1 in wild birds from 11 prefectures are reported in Japan
• Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan (Follow-up Report 5 : 02/14/2011) published on Feb 15, 2011
  Japan reports 5 new outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in wild birds in three prefectures.
• Migratory Birds Trigger Bird Flu Outbreak In South Korea published on Feb 07, 2011
  "An analysis of the 40 confirmed cases of bird flu in the country showed contact with wild birds was the primary cause of local AI cases, said Joo Yi-seok, head of the animal disease control bureau at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service."
• Cold snap 'forced flu-carrying birds south' published on Feb 01, 2011
  "The spread of avian flu may have become even greater as a result of these birds arriving in this nation after migrating through such highly virus-dense areas as Siberia, China and Mongolia," Hiroyoshi Higuchi, a professor of ornithology at the University of Tokyo, said.
• Experts point to migratory birds as culprits behind Japan's bird flu outbreak published on Jan 31, 2011
  "Wild ducks that were probably infected by domestic poultry birds on mainland East Asia have, after their breeding season, come to winter in Japan and the Korean Peninsula," says University of Tokyo ornithology professor Hiroyoshi Higuchi.
• Avian flu spreading at rapid pace / Infection routes hard to determine; migratory birds seen as responsible published on Jan 31, 2011
  "The route of infection has not been established in all cases, but it is highly likely that migratory birds from the north were carriers of the infectious disease."
• Bird flu outbreak affects zoos / Public sees less of feathered friends as bird-related events canceled published on Jan 31, 2011
  The spread of HPAI H5N1 in Japan has lead to at least 28 institutions canceling events to prevent bird flu from spreading among wild birds or to human beings.
• Experts say H5N1 picture not greatly improved since 2003 published on Jul 28, 2010
  
• Tackling animal disease threatPLEA FOR GREATER EFFORT TO COUNTER GLOBAL SPREAD OF SCOURGES LIKE FOOT-AND-MOUTHTackling animal disease threat: Plea for greater effort to counter global spread of scourges like foot-and-mouth published on Jul 28, 2010
  Plea for greater effort to counter global spread of scourges like Foot and Mouth.
• 06/25/2010: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Russia, (Immediate notification) published on Jul 07, 2010
  Wild birds including Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Goosander (Mergus merganser), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) found dead on a lake in Ubsu Nur, Tuva, Russia, have tested positive for H5N1.
• Bird Flu: Preening Spreads Viruses in Nature published on Jul 07, 2010
  A new mechansim--preen oil secretion and preening--may be a hitherto unknown way that avian influenza viruses, including the highly pathogenic H5N1, may be spread.
• Borne on the Wing: Avian Influenza Risk in U.S. Wild Songbirds Mapped published on Jul 07, 2010
  A nationwide study shows that some species of songbirds are surprising carriers of avian influenza.
• AVIAN INFLUENZA (08): ISRAEL (HAIFA) RESOLVED, OIE published on Feb 03, 2010
  Contact with wild bird droppings is suggested to be the source of introduction of H5N1 into a commercial facility in Israel.
• 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."