Published Date: 2005-08-26 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza - Asia (12): Viet Nam, civets, H5N1
Archive Number: 20050826.2527

AVIAN INFLUENZA - ASIA (12): VIET NAM, CIVETS, H5N1
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Date: Fri 26 Aug 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Associated Press via Globe and Mail, Toronto, 26 Aug 2005 [edited]
<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050826.wbirdflu0826/BNStory/International/>

Bird flu spreads to new species
-----------------------------------
Bird flu has killed 3 rare civets born in captivity at a national park in
Viet Nam, marking the 1st time the virus has been reported in the species,
officials said on Friday [26 Aug 2005].
The Owston civets died in late June 2005 at the Cuc Phuong National Park,
about 120 km south of Hanoi. Samples sent to a lab in Hong Kong came back
positive for the H5N1 virus, said Scott Roberton, technical adviser for the
civet conservation program at the park.
He said other animals at the park have been tested -- including chickens,
rats and other birds -- but none have tested positive for the virus.
"It's another good example of how dangerous this thing is," Mr. Roberton
said. "No animals are ill, no people are ill. We're still trying to figure
out where the source was. The civets were not fed any type of poultry, and
20 other civets of the same species in adjacent cages did not become sick",
he said. "The World Health Organization and Viet Nam health officials are
expected to test staff and animal keepers to determine [whether] anyone
caring for the civets has been infected with bird flu," he said.
Anton Rychener, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the
World Organization for Animal Health in Hanoi, confirmed the results.
Cat-like civets are captured in the wild and served as a delicacy at
restaurants in Viet Nam and China.
Scientists suspect that SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which
killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003, was passed to humans from civet
cats and other mongoose-like animals sold in live food markets in southern
China.
Peter Horby, an epidemiologist for the WHO in Hanoi, said the development
would not make people more susceptible to bird flu, because humans have
less contact with civets than [with] poultry. "The interesting thing is
that it's a new species," he said. "It continues to surprise."
Bird flu had previously been found in other mammals, such as cats and tigers.
The virus has killed 61 people region-wide, with the bulk of those deaths
in Viet Nam. Health experts have repeatedly warned that the world is due
for an influenza pandemic that could kill millions and cripple economies.
They fear the bird flu virus will mutate and become easily transmitted from
person to person. So far, most human cases have been traced back to contact
with poultry.
Owston civets are globally threatened and found in southern China, Viet Nam
and Laos.
[Similar items have been sent by Christian Griot, A-Lan Banks, Mary
Marshall and Joe Dudley, who are cordially acknowledged].
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Owston's Banded Palm Civet (_ Chrotogale owstoni_) belongs to the family
_Viverridae_, subfamily _Hemigalinae_, genus _Chrotogale_. The genotyping
of the causal agent recorded in the civets, and its comparison to previous
isolates of H5N1 strains from mammals, are expected with interest.
Studies of H5N1 infection of pigs (mammals of particular significance in
relation to the epidemiology of avian influenza in respect to human health)
using viruses isolated in Viet Nam and Thailand have recently been
published (Young Ki Choi, Tien Dzung Nguyen et al. Journal of Virology,
August 2005, p. 10821-10825 Vol. 79, No. 16). We are grateful to Christian
Griot for bringing this paper to our attention. - Mod.AS]
[This is an interesting report; but perhaps not so surprising. Other
members of the order Carnivora are know to be susceptible to avian
influenza viruses.
Family Felidae - both domestic cats (H7N7) and zoo tigers and leopards
(H5N1) have suffered infection and the H5N1 virus was transmitted among zoo
tigers.
Family Mustelidae - the ferrets, badgers, skunks, etc. Ferrets are highly
susceptible to influenza viruses. The first human influenza virus was
isolated by Wilson Smith and Stuart-Harris by inoculation of patient
material into ferrets in the 1930's. Ferrets are still the animals of
choice for production of diagnostic antisera (e.g. see the WHO statement
"Evolution of H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in Asia" by The World Health
Organization Global Influenza Program Surveillance Network at
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol11no10/05-0644.htm>). - Mod.CP]

See Also

Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (56): Indonesia, pigs, OIE 20050601.1526
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (55): Thailand 20050516.1340
2004
----
SARS - worldwide - China (32): civet cat ban 20041020.2842
SARS - worldwide (22): China (HK SAR), transmission 20040427.1164
SARS - worldwide (10): China, 2004 cases 20040127.0327
............arn/msp/mpp

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