Published Date: 2008-10-11 14:00:33
Subject: PRO/AH> Avian influenza (103): Germany (SN), HPAI H5N1 confirmed
Archive Number: 20081011.3225

AVIAN INFLUENZA (103): GERMANY (SAXONY), HPAI H5N1 CONFIRMED
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Date: Fri 10 Oct 2008
Source: Reuters via The Guardian [edited]
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7849019>


Germany confirms 1st bird flu case this year
--------------------------------------------
German authorities said on Friday [10 Oct 2008] that the lethal
strain of bird flu has been confirmed on a farm in the east of the
country. Germany's eastern state government of Saxony said the H5N1
bird flu strain had been confirmed in a duck at a poultry farm near Dresden.

"Tests have confirmed that this involves the highly contagious
version of the H5N1 virus epidemic," said Ralph Schreiber, spokesman
for Saxony's social welfare ministry.

The flu strain was detected during a routine examination at the farm,
which held some 1400 birds. All birds at the farm have been
slaughtered as a precaution, the state said.

A 3-km (2-mile) radius quarantine zone has been established around
the farm and a 10-km [6.2-mile] radius observation zone also was
established in which all poultry must be locked up in buildings.

Bird flu was last detected in farm birds in Germany in December 2007.
A spokeswoman for Germany's federal Agriculture Ministry stressed
state authorities were responsible for combating bird flu. Officials
were currently assessing the risk level. Relevant international
organisations including the European Union plus neighbouring
countries had been informed of the case, she said.

The virus has infected 387 people worldwide in 15 countries, killing
245 of them, according to the World Health Organization's 10 Aug 2008
tally. Indonesia has the highest toll of any nation. Although bird
flu remains an animal disease, experts fear that the virus might
mutate into a form easily passed from human to human.

[Byline: Michael Hogan]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[Germany submitted today (10 Oct 2008) to the OIE an "Immediate
notification" on this outbreak. It included a map, demonstrating the
vicinity of the affected holding to the Polish and Czech borders, and
-- among others -- the following remarks:

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: Unknown or inconclusive.

Epidemiological comments: There were no movements of animals into or
out of the holding concerned within the last 21 days.
The detection of HPAI H5N1 was performed in relation to routine
laboratory investigation.

See at
<http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7416>.
- Mod.AS]

See Also

Avian influenza (102): Germany (SN), HPAI H5N1 suspected 20081010.3208
2007
----
Avian influenza (190): Germany (Brandenburg), OIE 20071218.4077
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (38): Germany 20071211.3992
Avian influenza (140): Germany (Bavaria), wild duck 20070812.2633
Avian influenza (138): Germany (Bavaria), duck 20070811.2622
Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (30): Germany 20070811.2612
Avian influenza (137): Germany (Bavaria), duck 20070807.2563
Avian influenza (127): Germany (multistate), wild birds, OIE 20070710.2194
Avian influenza (125): Germany (Thuringia), domestic goose,
confirmed 20070707.2169
....................arn/ejp/dk

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