Published Date: 2008-02-03 15:00:14
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (27): Bulgaria, wild duck, H7, OIE
Archive Number: 20080203.0437
AVIAN INFLUENZA (27): BULGARIA, WILD DUCK, H7, OIE
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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: 2 Feb 2008
Source: OIE WAHID Disease Information 2008; 21(6) [edited]
<http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=weekly_report_index&admin=0>
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Bulgaria
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Information received on 1 Feb 2008 from Mr. Nikola T. Belev,
President de la Commission regionale de l'OIE pour l'Europe, Delegue
aupres de l'OIE, Representation regionale de l'OIE pour l'Europe,
SOFIA, Bulgaria
Summary
Report type: Immediate notification
Start date 21 Jan 2008
Date of 1st confirmation of the event 1 Feb 2008
Report date 1 Feb 2008
Date submitted to OIE 1 Feb 2008
Reason for notification: Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence February 2006
Manifestation of disease: Sub-clinical infection
Causal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H7
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
New outbreaks
Outbreak 1 near the village of Han Krum, Veliki Preslav, Shumen, SUMEN
Date of start of the outbreak 21 Jan 2008
Outbreak status: Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: Not applicable
Species Wild species
Susceptible 1
Cases 1
Deaths 0
Destroyed 1
Slaughtered 0
Affected population one shot mallard duck (_Anas Platyrhynchos_)
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Species Wild species
Apparent morbidity rate 100.00 percent
Apparent mortality rate 0.00 percent
Apparent case fatality rate 0.00 percent
Proportion susceptible animals lost* 100.00 percent
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction
and/or slaughter
Epidemiology: Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection.
Unknown or inconclusive
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type: National Reference Laboratory for avian
influenza and Newcastle disease (National laboratory)
Species Wild species
Test real-time PCR
Test date 1 Feb 2008
Result Positive
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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[Although this is not the H5N1 avian influenza virus infection we are
all too familiar with, all highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses
and all low pathogenic H5 or H7 avian influenza viruses must be
reported to the OIE. Clearly, the risk of transmission to humans from
this mallard duck, which subsequently died by a gunshot wound, is not
nearly as high as with H5N1 poultry flocks. However, H7 avian
influenza viruses have caused human infections in various countries
including the Netherlands, Canada and the UK. In fact, in the
Netherlands, a previously healthy veterinarian died from an H7N7
infection obtained while working with infected poultry flocks.
Reporting outbreaks of all avian influenza viruses having the
potential to cause human disease is critical for building the kind of
knowledge base that will provide a holistic molecular and
geographical picture of the risk of a pandemic strain evolving. A
complete picture of what kinds of viruses are present in humans is
crucial, but the database should be expanded to include studies of
different species that could be, or could have been, harboring the
virus. We know influenza viruses circulate in swine, horses, wild
birds, and, more recently, dogs in addition to humans. Knowledge of
the kinds of viruses present within given species within a given
geographical area must be obtained if we are to have a rich,
contextual database to draw upon when making decisions about the
likelihood of a quick spreading, efficient influenza virus strain
beginning to circulate in any population.
The location of the outbreak can be seen at the OIE/WAHID link
provided above or at
<http://encarta.msn.com/map_701516835/ percentC5 percentA0umen.html>.
- Mod.PC]