Zoonotic Bird Flu News since 6 Jan till 6 Sep 2022

COLUMN: Avian flu could threaten Oregon birds through winter [Salem Reporter, 6 Sep 2022]

by Harry Fuller

The human flu season begins each autumn. It is usually worst from December through February here in the Northern Hemisphere. There is another flu season already surrounding us, killing some of its victims. It is avian flu.

The particular strain that is spreading now is EA H5N1. This strain will not diminish its presence over the winter as the virus is not harmed by sub-freezing temperatures. Worse, the virus survives in bird feces, on feathers and solid surfaces, and can live and spread in water, even seawater for days. Think of a neighbor’s chicken coop, the geese in the golf course pond, those thousands of ducks and gulls headed our way for the coming rainy season. It is not always fatal but highly contagious.

Avian flu victims have been found among wild birds in all parts of Oregon. It often affects clusters of birds. Among species being killed: Canada geese and other waterfowl, White Pelicans, raptors up to and including eagles; Great Blue Heron. If smaller birds start dying they are less likely to be detected as easily. Raccoons and house cats will see to that.

This avian flu strain is present in Canada and Alaska. That means migrating flocks coming our way over the next weeks might be carriers, spreading the flu to refuges, estuaries and riparian corridors, and even mountain meadows where it has not been … yet. Already most states have reported flu cases. Highest positive case numbers come from states with lots of waterfowl: North Dakota, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina. Migration could bring widespread outbreaks and alter the stats. Right now, Oregon ranks 15th in number of cases with 51. North Dakota leads with 248—it has many nesting ducks over the summer.

Most identified victims in Oregon so far have been larger birds, often waterfowl: Canada goose, mallard, cinnamon teal, white pelican, bald eagle. In areas where the drought has reduced the amount of water the waterfowl will be con concentrated and that will help the fly spread faster among the crowded birds. This could include Malheur, Summer Lake, Roger River Valley, Klamath. Down in California it could be an unhappy winter for large birds in the Sacramento River Valley. All along the Pacific Coast our marshes and estuaries could become lethal.

To report a sick or dead wild bird: contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 866-968-2600 or [e-mail].

Where is avian flu in the U.S.? View federal data here and Oregon data here.

For information about upcoming Salem Audubon programs and activities, see www.salemaudubon.org, or Salem Audubon’s Facebook page.

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Bird flu cases reported in Ashland & Defiance counties in Ohio [Wooster Daily Record, 6 Sep 2022]

By Rachel Karas

Chickens in Ashland and Defiance counties have contracted the bird flu, prompting state agricultural officials to issue a warning.

According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the influenza – also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza – has affected a backyard flock in Ashland and a commercial flock in Defiance. Those premises are under quarantine by state officials with additional surveillance and testing that will be conducted around the area.

No human cases have been recorded but it “is a highly contagious virus that spreads quickly and can be fatal to flocks and devastating to poultry owners,” according to a news release issued Tuesday.

Local officials hope to learn more information following a meeting with the state department but here are the current recommendations from the agency:
Who and what can catch the bird flu?
The virus can infect poultry, including animals like chickens, turkeys and quails, and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds.

Although humans can get infected as well, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that the recent cases do not present an immediate public health concern.

Can I get sick from eating animal products from an infected bird?
According to USDA, the virus cannot be transmitted through any meat or eggs that are cooked properly, meaning they have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher.

However, as an additional safety precaution, any products coming from an infected flock are "prohibited from entering the food system,” according to the release.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick from bird flu?
Additional attention to cleanliness is recommended for those coming in contact with livestock.
Using soap and water – or hand sanitizer – to clean your hands before and after touching poultry is important.

Cleaning boots and feet is also important with the use of disposable boot covers as a possible option.

Disinfecting any tools or equipment – such as trucks, tractors, tools – used around livestock can help limit spread. It is recommended not to move or reuse anything that cannot be cleaned.

What can I do to protect my animals against the virus?
It is recommended to limit the contact a flock has with any outside visitors and wild animals. This can be done by keeping the birds inside when possible and only allowing caregivers to have contact with them.

Food, water and bedding products for the livestock should also be stored safely away from wild animal exposure. It is also recommended to not use surface water for drinking or cleaning.

Monitoring the birds for any of the following symptoms:
• discoloration and/or swelling of legs
• wattles and combs
• labored breathing
• reduced feed/water consumption

Any changes in egg production and death among the flock as a whole should be monitored.

Detection of a novel bird flu virus with pandemic potential [News-Medical.Net, 31 Aug 2022]

By Nidhi Saha

Global public health continues to be threatened by zoonotic and pandemic influenza. The virus has a high mutation rate, owing to its interspecies transmissibility and adaptability. The influenza A virus has diverse avian and animal origins with several viral subtypes; those in aquatic birds differ in neuraminidase (N1-N9) and hemagglutinin (H1 – H16).

Subtypes H6 and H9 of the influenza A virus infect game birds like pheasants, quails, and domestic chickens. H9N2 viruses containing acquired neuraminidase (NA) and hemagglutinin (HA) genes generate H5N1, H5N6, H10N8, and H7N9 viruses that may infect poultry and thereby threaten another zoonotic outbreak and onset of a pandemic.

The study
A recent virological study published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal identified the novel influenza A virus (H3N8) in live poultry in Hong Kong, genetically similar to the zoonotic H3N8 viruses reported in mainland China with its origin akin to H5N1, H5N6, H10N8, and H7N9 viruses. In addition, a risk assessment approach has been described to estimate the effects of human age stratified immunity in a population.

Results
The study entailed virologic surveillance between December 2021 and March 2022. Influenza A(H3N8) virus was identified in samples collected from four farms (A-D) in the study duration. All four farms were serologically positive for past H3N8 infections. Consequently, the caretakers were advised to disinfect their farms thoroughly and strengthen their biosecurity measures. Follow-up testing was conducted in May 2022 and again at the end of June 2022; all four farms tested negative for the influenza A(H3N8) virus.

Between January and June 2022, many swab samples of drinking water from poultry cages, defeathering machines, fecal droppings, and chopping boards were sampled from stalls and markets. One swab specimen from a defeathering machine and one chopping board from two different live poultry markets were H3N8 positive. DNA barcoding determined that the virus detected in the swab specimens originated from domestic chickens.

Full-genome phylogenetic analysis of the isolated influenza A (H3N8) viruses revealed a close relationship between H3N8 viruses isolated from farms and poultry markets and an H3N8 viral strain implicated in the zoonotic outbreak in mainland China. The polymerase acidic, nonstructural protein, NA, polymerase basic 1 and 2, and M gene segments were identical to the G57 sublineage of the H9N2 virus found in mainland China. The sequences of the HA gene were derived from the Eurasian avian H3 lineage, which is found in wild birds and ducks.

NA gene sequence of H3N8 in poultry A was from the North American lineage. On the other hand, the N8 NA sequence detected by DNA barcoding of a virus from a fecal specimen in Hong Kong in 2018 was derived from Northern pintail duck or Anas acuta.

Two H3N8 viruses from fecal dropping samples from Hong Kong were related to the Northern shoveler duck or Anus clypeata; these strains were unrelated to chicken H3N8 in all gene segments. A similarity was found between the N8 gene segment sequence and the H3N8 virus from other aquatic birds in mainland China. Except for the N8 NA gene segment, no other gene segments detected in poultry Influenza A(H3N8) virus were from the wild bird H3N8 virus from Hong Kong.

Referencing was carried out of HI titers with the World Health Organization (WHO) antiserum to A/Switzerland/8060/2017 against A/chicken/MKT-AB13cp/2020 H3N8 virus and on comparing with the A/Switzerland/8060/2017 homologous virus. Limited antigenic cross-reactivity was noted among the novel avian influenza A(H3N8) virus and the seasonal human H3N2 viruses.

The overall seroprevalence was insignificant in human serum samples stratified by age. In contrast, high seroprevalence in the same serum samples was observed in a recent seasonal influenza A (H3N8) virus in humans.

Herd immunity is an important parameter when assessing any pandemic threat of zoonotic origin.

Conclusion
According to the study, the influenza (AH3N8) virus has been detected among poultry in Hong Kong. This virus might pose a serious zoonotic and pandemic threat. Therefore, it is recommended that poultry surveillance for this virus be enhanced, a comprehensive risk assessment be conducted, and pandemic seed vaccine strains be prepared if necessary.

Journal reference:
• Sit THC, Sun W, Tse ACN, Brackman CJ, Cheng SMS, Yan Tang AY, er al. Novel zoonotic avian influenza virus A(H3N8) virus in chicken, Hong Kong, China. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Dec [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2810.221067, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/10/22-1067_article

Bird flu has killed 700 wild black vultures, says Georgia sanctuary [The Guardian, 24 Aug 2022]

Exclusion zone set up around Noah’s Ark sanctuary in US amid outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 strain

Bird flu has killed hundreds of wild black vultures at a Georgia sanctuary that houses more than 1,500 other animals.
At least 700 black vultures have died, Noah’s Ark animal care manager Allison Hedgecoth told WXIA-TV. State workers euthanized 20 to 30 other birds, she said.
“All of our chickens were euthanized yesterday and our turkeys and our guinea hens,” she said.
State officials have set up a six-mile (9.6km) perimeter around the sanctuary in hope of containing the spread, according to WXIA.

“With birds that are able to move around and airborne, this disease could spread pretty rapidly if it’s not contained very quickly,” state Senator Emanuel Jones told the station.

Calls to ban gamebird release to avoid ‘catastrophic’ avian flu outbreak
Read more

A sign on the Noah’s Ark website said it would be closed until 3 September.

No other birds at the Noah’s Ark sanctuary have tested positive for or shown symptoms of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, sanctuary officials told news outlets.

An outbreak of the virus in the US has led to the deaths of 40 million chickens and turkeys and about 2,000 wild birds this year. The wild birds include more than 240 black vultures and nearly 220 bald eagles, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Even seals have died from it.

Officials said they were told Saturday that initial tests indicate the black vultures that roost at Noah’s Ark died of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. State authorities were notified when an unusual number of dead vultures were found on 13 August, according to a statement released to news outlets.

Noah’s Ark is in Locust Grove, about 30 miles (48km) miles south-east of Atlanta. It’s more than 100 miles (160km) north-west of the area where hundreds of birds in a mixed backyard flock died or were euthanized earlier this year and most of the previously reported 15 wild bird deaths from the virus were located.

‘We take this disease seriously’: Many exhibits remain closed due to bird flu concerns in Washington [KING5.com, 22 Aug 2022]

By Kaila Lafferty

At least 32 backyard flocks have been affected by bird flu in Washington state. Several places across the region have pulled their bird exhibits to protect animals.

SEATTLE — Avian influenza, also called bird flu, has infected birds across the United States, including more than 2,100 cases that have been detected in Washington state.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was first detected in Washington on May 5 in a small backyard flock in Pacific County. HPAI is a strain of avian influenza (H5N1) that’s very contagious and deadly among chickens. The most recent case in Washington was detected in Kitsap County on Aug. 17, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)

“There’s a particularly virulent strain this year that is causing a lot of fatalities in wild birds as well as domestics,” said Dr. Tim Storms, director of animal health at the Woodland Park Zoo.
While at least 32 backyard flocks have been affected in Washington state, the risk to people is very low.

The Woodland Park Zoo and the Washington State Fair are among those that have pulled most of their bird exhibits to protect the animals. The Point Defiance Zoo said in May it was also taking extra precautions and moved the most highly susceptible birds to off-exhibit covered areas.

“I come as a zoo walker on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” said Ellen Margrethe Beck.

Margrethe Beck is a zoo walker, which is a group of seniors that walk the zoo grounds multiple times a week. One of her favorite parts of the zoo is the duck exhibit.

“I just love the ducks because they are so beautiful, different colors and they eat different food," said Margrethe Beck. "And the caretaker there, he knows all their names. They’re gorgeous, their colors are all so different and you’d never see a duck like that anyplace else.”

The ducks are part of the temperate forest exhibit. The trail leading through the duck area has been closed to the public for months.

“An assessment of all the species and their enclosures in terms of risks to them and, in many cases, they were kept either indoors, inside or protected from traveling waterfowl mostly mallards in our case,” Storms said. “We take this disease seriously, but we’re constantly balancing the risk to animals with their well fair and their quality of life and making sure their lives are as good as they can be in this situation given risks.”

Woodland Park Zoo staff are constantly evaluating the risks and rewards of which exhibits are open and which are being held back for safety, Storms explained. The penguins, for example, are in the process of molting, which has an effect on their immune systems.

Storms’ team decided the more confined space used behind the scenes to house the penguins was adding extra risk for other illnesses to spread amongst the waddle, so they let them back out into the exhibit area.

“The penguins are a great example of diving in and, no pun intended, making sure that the ongoing risks to their health are balanced with the risk of infection out there,” he said.

“It’s great to see [the penguins] back out, the ones that have been let out,” said Margrethe Beck.

One of the main concerns with bird flu is domesticated chickens.

In May, the WSDA urged bird owners to skip fairs and exhibitions until “until 30 days after the last confirmed detection of HPAI in Washington state.”

“Reducing or eliminating contact between wild birds and domestic flocks and practicing good biosecurity is the best way to protect domestic birds from this disease,” the WSDA said in a press release. “Bird owners should bring their flocks inside or undercover to protect them from wild waterfowl.”

The WSDA shared resources on its website for chicken owners on what to look out for and how to protect their flock.

Highly contagious bird flu outbreak has wildlife centers scrambling to isolate birds [CBS San Francisco, 8 Aug 2022]

BY JOHN RAMOS

SAN RAFAEL (KPIX) -- California wildlife officials made an announcement on July 15 that sent shivers through the animal care community: there is a bird flu outbreak.

Three cases of bird flu, or influenza, were discovered in the Sacramento area. Since then, more infected birds have been found in Sonoma County, and now wildlife facilities are scrambling to isolate themselves from the virus.

When 11-year-old Izzy Dettweiler shakes a box of oats, her ten chickens come running. She's cared for them in her backyard for more than a year now.

"I don't really know why. I just saw them once and thought, that is the bird for me," she said.

So how attached has she become?

"Well, I'd say I am in love with them," said Izzy. "If one died, I would cry."

It's the same feeling at Wildcare, a wildlife hospital in San Rafael. They normally have a group of animal ambassadors, from pelicans to a woodpecker, to a turkey vulture named Vlad. They are meant to educate the public during tours, but now the pelicans' pool has been drained and all the resident birds have been sent to other locations. The flu, scientists call 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza,' is deadly to waterfowl, raptors and even mammals that may eat infected birds.

According to Assistant Director of Animal Care, Brittany Morse, it is incredibly contagious.
"It is spread very rapidly through populations, and a lot of the birds that come here hang out in big groups," she said. "So, if we get an outbreak, it could hit us very hard, very fast."

As a result, the hospital has set up a receiving area at the front gate for people dropping off injured wildlife. In the courtyard, the turkey vulture's enclosure has been converted to a kind of outdoor MASH unit that can triage and treat new arrivals without even taking them indoors.
Because the virus can be spread just by walking on infected bird droppings, anyone entering the facility must wear shoe coverings.

"It is spread through respiratory droplets. It is spread through fecal particles. It is spread on contaminated surfaces. So that is why wearing shoe covers is so crucial when coming into a facility like this," said Morse.

The plague has ravaged poultry farms back East, killing millions of birds and causing national shortages of chicken and eggs. Now it's in California, and with the Bay Area being a key migratory route, it could spread here in a matter of days. No one knows how long an outbreak could last, but for Izzy's domesticated chickens or Wildcare's feathered ambassadors, the only way to protect them is to keep them as isolated as possible.

"We have never had to do something like this before," said Morse. "One of the common things we say around here is, 2020 COVID with no volunteers was terrible and so hard, but this is harder. This is so much harder."

Wildcare says anyone finding a dead bird, especially a large one, should report it to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. There's a link to a reporting form on the hospital's website.

Beach horror scene as birds spotted 'gasping for air' with 62 discovered dead amid avian flu crisis [Daily Record, 18 July 2022]

By Ryan Thom

Dog walker Sandra McDerment has described the horror scene at Maidens beach.

A dog walker says she spotted 62 dead birds with dozens of sick birds ‘gasping for breath’ amidst a horror scene on an Ayrshire beach.

Sandra McDerment was visiting Maidens beach with her husband Jim and two cocker spaniels when she came across the grim discovery of stricken birds on Thursday.

It comes as a bird flu warning was issued by two councils who were working to clean up beaches of infected animals.

The pair were walking along to Culzean beach when they were stunned to find tens of deceased birds dotted across the shore.

Sandra has told how they began counting after their dogs sniffed out one or two and were stunned to see so many.

Sandra told Ayrshire Live: “It was horrible when we go out a walk with the dogs we sometimes spot one or two dead sea gulls.

“But this was just bird, after bird, after bird. To have so many dead birds en masse like that was awful to see.

“In half a mile we counted 62 we only walked along the beach we could see there was more on the other side when we got to the entrance at Culzean. There was literally hundreds.

“We saw about half a dozen birds who were still alive and they were gasping for air, it was so distressing, there was absolutely nothing you could do.

“You were seeing them taking their last breath, their beaks were open and they just couldn’t move.”

Sandra immediately reported the grim find to DEFRA who are dealing with outbreaks across the country.

Sandra has urged other dog walkers or parents with young children to be aware if they sea any dead birds on beaches.

Sandra added: “The minute we saw there was loads of dead birds we worried it might be bird flu and put our dogs on a leash.

“We saw there was young children playing with a ball, we don’t know how far they went along the beach but they need to be careful.

“You don’t want your dog or child going near sick birds.”

South Ayrshire Council have warned the public to stay away from wild or sick birds to prevent the spread of bird flu.

Council posters have appeared across beaches to warn visitors.

What South Ayrshire Council are advising:
• Don’t touch any wild or sick birds you may come across
• Keep dogs and other animals away from the birds
• Avoid feeding wild birds, as this causes them to congregate and may encourage the spread of the disease
• Do not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings
• If you keep poultry or other birds, wash your hands and clean and disinfect your footwear before tending to your birds
• Please report any sightings to our Waste Management team on 0300 123 0900

DEFRA were unable to confirm or deny if they had received a report from Maidens beach.

Why unprecedented bird flu outbreaks sweeping the world are concerning scientists [Nature.com, 26 May 2022]

by Brittney J. Miller

Mass infections in wild birds pose a significant risk to vulnerable species, are hard to contain and increase the opportunity for the virus to spill over into people.

A highly infectious and deadly strain of avian influenza virus has infected tens of millions of poultry birds across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. But scientists are particularly concerned about the unprecedented spread in wild birds — outbreaks pose a significant risk to vulnerable species, are hard to contain and increase the opportunity for the virus to spill over into people.

Since October, the H5N1 strain has caused nearly 3,000 outbreaks in poultry in dozens of countries. More than 77 million birds have been culled to curb the spread of the virus, which almost always causes severe disease or death in chickens. Another 400,000 non-poultry birds, such as wild birds, have also died in 2,600 outbreaks — twice the number reported during the last major wave, in 2016–17.

Researchers say that the virus seems to be spreading in wild birds more easily than ever before, making outbreaks particularly hard to contain. Wild birds help to transport the virus around the world, with their migration patterns determining when and where it will spread next.
Regions in Asia and Europe will probably continue to see large outbreaks, and infections could creep into currently unaffected continents such as South America and Australia.

Although people can catch the virus, infections are uncommon. Only two cases have been reported since October, one each in the United Kingdom and the United States. But scientists are concerned that the high levels of virus circulating in bird populations mean that there are more opportunities for spillover into people. Avian influenza viruses change slowly over time, but the right mutation could make them more transmissible in people and other species, says Ian Barr, deputy director of the World Health Organization (WHO)-collaborating influenza centre at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia. “These viruses are like ticking time bombs,” he says. “Occasional infections are not an issue — it’s the gradual gaining of function of these viruses” that is the real concern, he says.

Virus origin
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain emerged in commercial geese in Asia in around 1996, and spread in poultry throughout Europe and Africa in the early 2000s. By 2005, the strain was causing mass deaths in wild birds, first in East Asia and then in Europe. Since then, the strain has repeatedly infected wild birds in many parts of the world, says Andy Ramey, a research wildlife geneticist at the US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center in Anchorage. Through repeated spillovers, Ramey says, H5N1 seems to have become more adapted to wild birds. It’s “now become an emerging wildlife disease”, he says.

In 2014, a new highly pathogenic H5 lineage — called 2.3.4.4 — emerged and started infecting wild birds without always killing them. This created opportunities for the virus to spread to North America for the first time. The lineage has since dominated outbreaks around the world, including the current ones.

The virus affects some wild bird species more severely than others. For instance, some infected mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) show no signs of disease, whereas the virus killed roughly 10% of the breeding population of barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard late last year and hundreds of Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) in Greece earlier this year. Wildlife researchers are trying to understand why the virus affects species differently. They are particularly concerned about the virus’s impact on vulnerable bird species with smaller populations or restricted geographic ranges, and species that are particularly susceptible to infection, such as whooping cranes (Grus americana) and emperor geese (Anser canagicus), Ramey says.

Ramey adds that only a fraction of cases in wild birds are diagnosed and reported. More monitoring could unveil the true magnitude of wild bird mortality, he says.

Controlling the spread
Better monitoring of infected wild birds could also help to alert poultry facilities to the risk of future outbreaks — although regions with large poultry or migratory bird populations are at high risk of further outbreaks no matter how good their surveillance is, says Keith Hamilton, head of the department for preparedness and resilience at the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Tracking disease in wild birds is resource-intensive and challenging owing to the sheer size of their populations, Hamilton says. He suggests targeted surveillance in areas more likely to encounter the virus, such as popular flyways or breeding grounds.

An effective vaccine for poultry could help to stem the spread, along with decreases in the number of birds in production facilities, says Michelle Wille, a wild-bird virologist at the University of Sydney in Australia. The poultry industry can also continue to improve biosecurity by restricting entry to facilities, protecting their water sources and decreasing contact between poultry and wild birds.

Although poultry populations can be culled to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, researchers emphasize that wild birds should not be harmed to mitigate outbreaks.
Killing wild birds to prevent further infections would not work because of the huge size and vast ranges of their populations, says Lina Awada, a veterinary epidemiologist at the World Organisation for Animal Health. It could even make the situation worse, because it would disrupt wild-bird movements and behaviours, helping the virus spread further, she says.

“The same way we shouldn’t be shooting bats because of coronavirus, the solution to this is not trying to kill wild birds,” Wille says.

Researchers say that what is needed is a holistic approach that considers how avian influenza spreads through wild birds, poultry and people. Collaboration between public-health researchers and animal-health groups is vital for picking up spillover events into people. “If we control this in poultry, we control this in humans, and it’s likely that we control this in wild birds, as well,” Wille says.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01338-2

Colorado prison inmate diagnosed with human avian flu; first case of strain detected in US [HSToday, 28 Apr 2022]

By Jeanine Santucci

A Colorado prison inmate who had direct exposure to poultry infected with avian flu is the first person in the USA to test positive with the current strain.

The man, an inmate at a state correctional facility in Delta County, showed mild symptoms of fatigue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

"This case does not change the human risk assessment for the general public, which CDC considers to be low," the CDC said in a statement.

According to the Colorado health department, the man who tested positive is isolating and being treated with an antiviral drug. He worked at a commercial farm with poultry as part of a correctional pre-release employment program.

The infected flock was euthanized and disposed of, the department said; more than 24 million chickens, turkeys and other domestic birds have been killed in the USA since February. The H5 avian flu outbreak is the biggest outbreak since 2014-15.

The CDC said H5N1 has been found in U.S. commercial and backyard birds in 29 states and in wild birds in 34 states since it began tracking the outbreak in late 2021.

"Because the person was in close contact with infected poultry, the virus may have been present in the person’s nose without causing infection," the Colorado department said. The CDC said it was appropriate to contain and treat the case as an infection.

The CDC recommends that people who work in direct contact with poultry increase precautions, including wearing gloves, mask and eye protection and washing hands.

Though the H5N1 virus can spread between an infected person and a close contact only very rarely, based on previous outbreaks, it does not lead to sustained spread between humans, the CDC said.

Only one other person is known to have tested positive with the current strain: A person in the U.K. who raises birds became infected but did not have any symptoms in December 2021.

Bird flu cases are creeping west. Could it reach California? [San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar 2022]

by Michael Cabanatuan

While the world continues to battle COVID-19, another deadly virus — the bird flu — is winging its way west across the U.S., threatening to potentially invade California.

Outbreaks of the avian virus have been reported as far west as Colorado, where infected geese were discovered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Previous outbreaks had been confined to the East Coast and the Midwest.

No cases of the bird flu have yet been detected in California, said Steve Lyle, a spokesperson for the state Department of Food and Agriculture.

Avian influenza rarely infects humans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but people can become infected from direct contact with birds that have the virus. For birds, including domestic poultry, however, the virus can be deadly, agriculture authorities said.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected animals, as well as from their feces and respiratory emissions, which can be carried by clothing and hands of workers at poultry farms.

Ducks on the Pacific Flyway, migratory route used by birds, often bring the virus to California, spreading it though droppings that make direct contact with other birds or contaminate workers, their clothing or even vehicles on commercial ranches, said Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation, an industry group.

The biggest potential threat to humans at this point is the food supply, already suffering the aftereffects of COVID shutdowns with supply-chain problems that have driven up prices.

According to agriculture officials, the avian flu could infect poultry farms, cutting the availability of chicken and eggs as well as other poultry products.

When an outbreak hits a commercial ranch, Mattos said, the birds have to be euthanized and buried, and the ranch has to be thoroughly sanitized. The process can close down the facility for three to four months, he said, reducing poultry production.

“It’s a big deal,” Mattos said. “We really don’t want to get (avian influenza) here.”

California poultry and egg producers have increased “biosecurity” procedures, Lyle said, taking measures such as perimeter control, keeping poultry away from wild birds, requiring employees to use dedicated clothing, gloves and masks, and cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment. Guests at farms, including feed truck drivers, wear white hazmat suits, Mattos said.

They’re also stressing disease prevention and detection procedures with employees and working with the USDA and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife in hopes that if the avian flu does make it to California, it’s detected early.

California is also limiting the import of poultry coming from areas affected by the avian flu, Lyle said.

Lyle said the state is well-positioned to combat the bird flu because it’s home to one of the world’s top animal health laboratories, the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, managed by UC Davis and funded by the state. The system has labs throughout the state with a high capacity for testing, Lyle said.

“The objective is to ensure we are ready to quickly detect, contain and eliminate (the virus) in domestic poultry, should it arrive in California,” Lyle said.

The state Department of Public Health did not respond to inquiries about whether the virus poses a danger to people in California. The CDC said on its website that while the risk to humans is low, those who could be exposed to infected birds on the job or in recreational activities face a greater risk.

Bird Flu Outbreak Reported in Two More Minnesota Counties [KNSI, 29 Mar 2022]

by Jennifer Lewerenz

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Board of Animal Health says Kandiyohi and Lac Qui Parle Counties are the latest to report flocks with highly pathogenic avian influenza infections.

Those two counties join Meeker, Mower and Stearns Counties with flocks showing signs of H5N1. There are now more than 370,000 birds in Minnesota that are affected. Minnesota joins Colorado, North Dakota and Pennsylvania with the HPAI strain. The infections in those states were all detected in waterfowl rather than commercial birds.

So far, 18 states have reported H5N1 poultry outbreaks this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s emergency response team is being deployed in the state Wednesday and will remain for at least three weeks. The team will work alongside animal health officials and producers to respond to the incident, including quarantining the infected flocks, supporting infected-site response activities, engaging in diseas
e surveillance, and coordinating state and federal logistics and finances.

Minnesota is ranked number one in turkey production in the nation. Minnesota has more than 660 turkey farms that raise about 40 million birds annually, more than any other state. Turkey production generates $774 million in cash receipts annually, and in 2020, Minnesota exported about 15% of its production, worth approximately $114 million.

New bird flu outbreaks push number of birds destroyed in Iowa to 8.2 million [Des Moines Register, 29 Mar 2022]

by Donnelle Eller

New bird flu outbreaks in a pair of Iowa commercial poultry facilities have resulted in the destruction of nearly 1.53 million birds to prevent the spread of the deadly avian ailment, Iowa agriculture officials said Tuesday.

The outbreak were at a Guthrie County egg facility with 1.5 million laying hens and the a Hamilton County operation that had 28,000 turkeys, said Chloe Carson, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said in a call with reporters that there now have been nine outbreaks in Iowa since the beginning of the month — two in backyard flocks and in seven commercial facilities.

The birds destroyed in the latest round push the statewide total to nearly 8.2 million, or about half of the birds killed nationwide to as a result of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Iowa is the nation's largest producer of eggs and sixth-largest producer of turkeys.

Iowa State Veterinarian Jeff Kaisand said all the birds are being disposed of on location, even large numbers like the 5.3 million laying hens destroyed in mid-March at an egg facility in Buena Vista County.

"It's being done on site. We're not moving anything," Kaisand said.

A 2015 bird flu outbreak resulted in the destruction of 32.7 million birds in Iowa.

Naig said the state has called the U.S. Department of Agriculture for help in its response to the current outbreak. The state wants the birds in the infected facilities to be destroyed within 24 hours to prevent the virus' spread.

"We asked for support because we needed additional folks with additional expertise," Naig said.
Kaisand said he believes wild birds, in which the disease is prevalent, are infecting Iowa's poultry. The state is part of the Mississippi flyway, a migration route for millions of birds each year.

"It doesn't look like there's lateral spread" between facilities, Kaisand said.

State and federal agencies have said none of the birds nor any poultry products from flocks where avian influenza is detected will reach U.S. food supplies. No human cases of the disease have been detected in the United States.

Gov. Kim Reynolds is expected to issue disaster proclamations for Guthrie and Hamilton counties, enabling the state agriculture department and other agencies to help track, monitor and contain the disease.

Officials will test flocks within six miles of an infected facility and restrict movement inside the area, but the state couldn't immediately say how many more facilities were being tested.

Hong Kong suspends import of poultry products from US over bird flu [National Herald, 21 Mar 2022]

The CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the areas with immediate effect

Hong Kong's food safety authority decided on Monday to suspend the import of poultry meat and products from bird flu-affected areas in the US.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Hong Kong government's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said the decision was made in view of a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Queen Anne's County in Maryland, Jefferson County in Wisconsin, Taylor County in Iowa, and Lawrence County and Jasper County in Missouri in the US, reports Xinhua news agency.

The CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the areas with immediate effect.

Can humans catch bird flu? What you need to know about virus amid 'biggest ever' wave [NationalWorld, 21 Mar 2022]

By Henry Sandercock

Hundreds of cases of bird flu have been detected across the UK, which has led to free range eggs no longer being available in supermarkets

A record breaking wave of bird flu cases has been recorded across Great Britain since autumn 2021.

The virus has been recorded in more than 100 locations across England, Scotland and Wales and has led to the culling of thousands of birds.

It has forced Britain’s chief veterinary officers and the Government to implement a Covid-style ‘bird lockdown’ across the UK in a bid to control the wave of cases.

So how did bird flu reach the UK - and is it harmful to humans?
Here is everything you need to know.

What is bird flu?
Bird flu is a form of the influenza virus - the same family of viruses which causes flu in humans.
It is a completely different virus to coronaviruses - the category Covid-19 belongs to.

Also known as avian influenza, it is so called because it tends to affect birds more than humans.

The virus either has low pathogenicity - i.e. it does not damage the health of its host much - or high pathogenicity, whereby it can be fatal.

While birds with low pathogenicity tend to have minor breathing problems and might not produce as many eggs, those with highly pathogenic strains can display a whole host of symptoms.

These include: unresponsiveness, closed and excessively watery eyes, a swollen head and tremoring.

Bird flu only tends to become a major problem in the UK when birds reared for food, such as chickens and turkeys, get infected.

Many thousands of birds have already had to be put down to stop the spread of the virus to other flocks - while housing restrictions have stopped free range eggs from going on sale.

Last winter’s outbreak was also a big one and meant birds had to be kept indoors for a number of weeks by law because there were so many wild birds carrying the virus.

But major outbreaks tend not to happen every year.

If you find a dead or visibly sick bird, especially if it’s a duck, goose, swan or a bird of prey, you should contact DEFRA.

It is hoped that the current wave of infections will disappear due to sunnier, warmer spring weather - conditions which stop the virus from being as active.

How has bird flu come to the UK?
Bird flu tends to come to the UK when birds migrate to the southern hemisphere from Russia and northern regions of Asia ahead of the winter months.

The virus circulates naturally among wild birds.

Migrating ducks commonly seen in and around UK ponds during the winter, like mallards and wigeons, as well as geese are currently believed to be bringing it to the UK and Europe.

Scientists are especially interested in this year’s outbreak because it appears the strain of the virus is different to what it has been in recent winters.

Is bird flu harmful to humans?
According to the NHS, bird flu does not infect humans easily.

Indeed, the UK Health Security Agency describes the risk to the general public as very low.

There is also very little risk of bird flu infecting you via eggs or poultry, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

However, in January 2022 a 79-year-old man from Devon caught the virus from his flock of ducks - all 160 of whom have had to be culled.

Alan Gosling was forced to remain indoors to avoid spreading avian influenza, while his family have set up a GoFundMe page to raise £10,000 needed for the disinfection of his house and land.

Other human beings have been infected by the virus in the past and most cases have been in people who keep poultry or tend to be in close proximity to it.

In October, Reuters reported there had been a jump in the number of human infections reported in China, with 21 people infected, one critically.

Scientists said a strain had mutated to the extent that it could prove more infectious to humans.

But this number of infections was much lower than the amount recorded in the country in 2017, when hundreds of people were infected.

Many were seriously ill and at least six people died.

In June, health officials in China reported the first known human case of a certain strain of bird flu known as H10N3.

China rears the most amount of poultry in the world and is a top producer of ducks, which can be especially susceptible to flu viruses.

Russia also recorded cases in February 2021, with seven workers at a poultry plant becoming unwell.

How to avoid catching bird flu
The NHS says the only way a human can catch bird flu is through close contact with an infected bird.

It advised the general public to avoid: touching infected birds, touching droppings or bedding as well as killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans include:
• A very high temperature or feeling hot or shivery
• Aching muscles
• Headache
• A cough or shortness of breath
• Diarrhoea
• Sickness
• Stomach pain
• Chest pain
• Bleeding from the nose and gums
• Conjunctivitis

These symptoms can take three to five days to appear after you’ve been infected.

If you think you’ve caught bird flu, the NHS said you should seek out medical treatment as soon as possible.

France to cull millions more poultry as bird flu hits west [Reuters, 1１ Mar 2022]

PARIS, March 11 (Reuters) - France is to slaughter several million poultry birds in the second mass cull of flocks this winter as the country tries to contain outbreaks of avian influenza, the agriculture ministry said on Friday.

After a wave of cases in the southwest led to the culling of around 4 million animals, the ministry said the disease has spread rapidly since last month in the Pays de la Loire region, another major poultry zone further up France's west coast.

The authorities had slaughtered 1.2 million birds so far in the region and expect to cull another 3 million, as they adopt the same strategy as in the southwest by emptying poultry farms in areas near outbreaks, a ministry official said.

Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is often carried by wild birds in autumn and winter. The highly contagious H5N1 strain has been spreading quickly in Europe in recent months, prompting massive culls in several countries.

Bird flu cannot be passed on to humans through the eating of poultry products, although there have been occasional cases of humans catching strains of the disease.

As the Pays de la Loire region is a major supplier of chicks, the authorities would grant an exemption to allow reproduction farms in high-risk zones to continue supplying the rest of the country, notably the southwest that is about to resume breeding after its bird flu lockdown, the ministry added.

Bird flu outbreaks have added to pressure on poultry producers who are facing a jump in feed costs due to record grain prices, partly linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

France and the European Union have promised special aid for livestock sectors.

12 European states report avian flu in poultry [WATTAgNet Industry News & Trends, 2１ Feb 2022]

France and Italy are most affected by the spread of this disease
Over the past two weeks, further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry were officially reported by 12 countries across Europe. Among these, France and Italy continue to be the most affected by the spread of infection.

The most prevalent virus serotype — H5N1 — also continues to be detected in wild birds widely across the continent.

So far this year, 16 European countries have registered one or more HPAI outbreaks in poultry. This is according to the Animal Disease Information System of the European Commission (EC; as of February 13). Up to that date, the System has a total of 408 outbreaks in 2022 up to that date. This is an increase of 45 since the previous edition on February 6.

Registering the most outbreaks has been France with 285 so far this year, followed by Hungary (29), Poland (20), Italy (16), and Germany (15).

The first outbreak of the year has occurred in poultry in Northern Ireland. As previously reported, this affected a farm during the first week of February.

Also reporting new cases through this system since the end of last month were the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
France: 379 outbreaks in poultry this season

So far this winter, 364 HPAI outbreaks linked to the H5N1 virus serotype have occurred on farms in France, and 15 more in non-commercial flocks. These figures are from the agriculture ministry (as on February 18).

While this source does not given details of size or type of flock, the season’s first cases on commercial premises have been confirmed in Indre-et-Loire and Mayenne. These departments are in the Centre-Val de Loire, and Pays de la Loire regions, respectively, in central and western France. Accounting for by far the most outbreaks on farms — 230 — is the department of Landes in the southwestern region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

In the past week, French authorities have officially registered 101 new HPAI outbreaks, all on commercial farms. These were confirmed in the period January 5-February 10 in a notification to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Directly impacted were almost 415,000 poultry. Mainly affected were flocks of ducks, but cases were also detected among chickens, broilers, guinea fowl, turkeys, and mixed species.
Individual outbreaks involved flocks of between 250 and more than 42,000 poultry in three regions — mainly Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie in the southwest. One outbreak was in Pays de la Loire. For the majority of the more recent outbreaks in ducks, birds are being culled following testing, but before signs of illness or mortality rises.

In this winter season, France’s first HPAI outbreak was confirmed at the end of November. Since then, the nation’s authorities have recorded 302 confirmed outbreaks with the OIE, involving more than 1.83 million commercial and backyard birds.

Around 3.4 million poultry — mainly ducks in the southwest of the country — were culled in France during the 2020-2021 winter.

France pushes for poultry vaccination in Europe
As France took over the presidency of the European Council, the country’s agriculture minister repeated his support for vaccinating poultry against HPAI.

Minister Julien Denormandie raised the issue as he addressed his first meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, reported Euractiv. Although the virus currently circulating in Europe so far presents only a very low risk to human health, the minister described the continent’s disease situation as the worst wave of avian flu in poultry ever recorded.

He said that two new vaccines against the disease will shortly enter a test phase in France.
Currently, vaccination against avian flu is not permitted in the European Union (EU). This is primarily because it has been impossible to distinguish vaccinated birds from those that are infected.

Further outbreaks in southern Europe
In the first two weeks of February, HPAI outbreaks have occurred at seven more farms in Spain.

According to the OIE reports, positive tests for the H5N1 HPAI virus serotype were obtained from six premises in Andalusia in the south of the country, and at one farm in the north-west in Castile and León. Affected were a total of more than 259,000 birds, including four flocks of turkeys, as well as laying hens and breeder hens.

Since the first cases in Spain in mid-January, nine outbreaks have been confirmed in these two regions. More than 319,000 poultry have been directly impacted.

In Portugal, the number of outbreaks in poultry since the end of December currently stands at five, affecting more than 124,500 birds.

Reported to the OIE over the past week are three new outbreaks, all in the western district around the capital, Lisbon. Testing positive for the H5N1 virus were two breeder flocks — two of chickens and one of ducks.

Italy has confirmed one new HPAI outbreak in poultry, bringing its total outbreaks to 309. According to the national health authority and research organization for animal health and food safety, IZSVe, the disease hit a farm with meat ducks in Pavia in the Lombardy region.

Earlier this month, the H5N1 virus was also detected in two small backyard flocks in Prato province in Tuscany.

Prior to these outbreaks, Italy had reported no new cases for almost one month. These are the first HPAI outbreaks of this season in the provinces of Pavia and Prato.

So far this year, almost 14.7 million poultry in Italy have been directly impacted by the H5N1 HPAI virus. The country’s first cases of the season were confirmed in mid-October of 2021.
More cases on poultry farms in Poland, Russia

So far this year, there have been 21 confirmed HPAI outbreaks in Poland. This is according to the nation’s chief veterinary office (as of February 18).

The most recent cases have been detected at three farms, with the latest to be affected were a mixed flock of around 41,717 poultry in Pomerania, and two premises with meat ducks in Lodz and Greater Poland (Wielkopolskie).

Previously, the Polish veterinary authority reported to the OIE that two flocks had tested positive for the H5N1 virus in Kuyavia-Pomerania during the first week of February.

In Russia’s North Caucasus federal district, the H5N1 HPAI virus has been detected at a fourth turkey farm operated by AgroPlus. As reported to the OIE, the firm’s latest unit to be hit by the disease housed around 65,000 birds, bringing the total losses of poultry so far in Stavropol krai to more than 186,600 birds.

The most recent reports to the OIE from the Czech Republic and Romania indicate one additional outbreak in a small non-commercial poultry flock in each country.

Poultry involved in outbreaks in northwestern Europe
In mid-February, broilers at a farm in the German state of Lower Saxony tested positive for the H5N1 virus serotype. Of the around 92,200 birds at the premises, 30 died, according to the OIE notification. The rest of the flock has been destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Dutch animal health agency has confirmed a further four HPAI outbreaks in poultry with the OIE. These affected one backyard flock, and three farms with laying hens — around 6,000 and 77,000 birds in Gelderland, and 51,000 more in Groningen. So far this winter, almost 1.36 million poultry in the Netherlands have been involved in HPAI outbreaks.

Latest poultry flocks in the United Kingdom (U.K.) to test positive for the H5N1 HPAI virus were one commercial flock and a two groups of other birds.

According to the latest reports to the OIE, more than 18,000 broiler breeders were on the affected farm in the southern English county of Hampshire. Other outbreaks were also in England — at a nature reserve in Norfolk, and ornamental birds in Northumberland.

Earlier this month, half of a small flock of laying hens in Denmark died. Investigations at the premises in the Zealand region revealed the presence of the H5N1 virus variant, and the remaining 400 birds have been destroyed.

HPAI cases in European wild birds approach 1,000
For the year to date, HPAI outbreaks in wild birds across Europe reported to the EC animal disease system have reached 962 (as of February 13). This represents an increase of 167 compared with the previous update one week earlier.

Of the 23 states that have registered cases through this system, Germany has detected the most outbreaks in wild species (494), followed by the Netherlands (185), and Denmark (55).

Also confirming with the EC new outbreaks since February 6 were Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden.

Over the past week, Croatia, Hungary, Norway, and the U.K. have notified the OIE about new cases of HPAI in wild birds. In all these cases, presence of the H5N1 HPAI virus serotype was confirmed.

Ireland’s veterinary authority has also registered with the OIE a single case of an infection with this virus variant in an unusual species. Testing positive was a fox found dead in County Donegal. Subsequently, the agency closed the outbreaks series, without any further cases being detected in this species.

Also declaring to the OIE that a disease situation was “resolved” was the Belgian animal health agency. Applying to the H5N8 HPAI variant, the declaration followed three confirmed outbreaks in captive birds and backyard flocks during August of 2021.

Public warning issued over bird flu outbreak after swans found dead in Birmingham park [Birmingham Live, 28 Jan 2022]

By Harry Leach

Avian influenza has been detected in birds across two parks in the city

A stark health warning has been issued over Birmingham's bird flu outbreak after more than a dozen swans were found dead in a city park.

Dead and sick birds were discovered at Brookvale Park in Erdington this week.

Birmingham City Council confirmed a fortnight ago that there was also confirmed cases of avian influenza in waterfowl at Cannon Hill Park.

Now, the the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging members of the public to not to touch sick or dead birds - or anything that might have been in contact with infected droppings.

People are also being reminded not to get close to, or hand feed to wild birds in the city.

Dr Roger Gajraj of UKHSA said: “The A(H5N1) strain is highly pathogenic to poultry and other birds, but the risk to human health is considered very low.

"While it's unusual for humans to be affected, it is possible for people to catch the virus.

Therefore, it's vital that people do not touch sick wild birds, carcasses or anything that might be contaminated from bird droppings.

"Infection control measures may be necessary if they do."

Dr Gajraj added it is difficult to know if a bird is infected, as symptoms may not show at first.

Cllr John O’Shea, cabinet member at Birmingham City Council, said: “This is a very serious situation. We would urge people to follow the guidance on how to safely use our parks and open spaces.

“This will help reduce risk to both wildlife and people, including our park staff.

"The council and partner agencies are working closely on the response to this outbreak, which follows others across the country.

"We will continue doing whatever needs to be done to address and control the situation.”

Anyone who has been in contact with wild birds or droppings should first make sure their footwear is properly cleaned, before thoroughly washing their hands.

They should then contact UKHSA's West Midlands Health Protection Team on 0344 225 3560.

From there, the team will offer antiviral medication and maintain close monitoring for 10 days.

First wild case of bird flu detected in US in 5 years [Q13 FOX (Seattle), 28 Jan 2022]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A duck killed by a hunter in South Carolina had a contagious and dangerous bird flu that has not been detected in the wild in the U.S. in five years, officials said.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service (APHIS) recently announced the first detections of Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses in wild birds in the United States since 2016external icon. Wild birds can carry HPAI A(H5N1) bird flu without showing symptoms, but these viruses can cause illness and death in domestic poultry," the CDC wrote on Thursday.

The flu poses a low risk to people but can spread quickly through chicken houses and other poultry businesses.

The Eurasian H5 avian influenza was first detected by Clemson University scientists and confirmed by federal testing, the school said in a news release.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture alerted global health officials. Scattered Eurasian H5 infections have been detected in 2022 from Portugal to Bulgaria and in December, two cases were reported in eastern Canada, officials said.

Anyone who has poultry, including backyard farms, needs to review their practices to keep birds safe from disease, said State Veterinarian Michael J. Neault, who runs Clemson University's Livestock Poultry Health program.

Those practices include thoroughly washing hands before and after handling wild and domesticated birds and using gloves and other protective gear when handling live birds.
Farmers should also keep their birds away from areas where geese and ducks roam, clean their cages and coops regularly and buy new birds from reputable sources and keep them away from the rest of the flock for 30 days, the university said.

"So far we have no indication that (the flu) has jumped from wild migratory birds to poultry and we’d very much like to keep it that way," Neault said in a statement.

Bird Flu That Can Infect Humans Found for First Time in Namibia [Bloomberg, 27 Jan 2022]

By Kaula Nhongo

A deadly form of bird flu that can be transmitted to humans has been detected for the first time in Namibia’s history, the Directorate of Veterinary Services said.

The highly-pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, or HPAI, was found in wild birds in the towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund on the southwest African nation’s coastline.

Bird flu 2021: Is bird flu in the US? What to expect from H5N1 [Deseret News, 24 Jan 2022]

By Herb Scribner

COVID-19, the omicron and delta variants and, now, bird flu

The bird flu has been detected in the United States, raising more questions and concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The news: A recent lab analysis from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the Asian strain of H5N1 avian influenza — commonly known as the bird flu — was recently discovered in a South Carolina duck.

• This is the first sighting of the bird flu in the U.S. in years.
• The USDA found two more birds — which had been shot by hunters — carried the same H5N1 avian influenza pathogen.
• Officials are warning hunters to be wary of potential bird flu symptoms in their flocks as they monitor the potential outbreak of avian influenza.

Why it matters: “It is far too soon to say whether the arrival of this virus in the U.S. is a blip, an imminent danger to agriculture, or a zoonotic pathogen probing for a path to attack humanity,” according to Wired. “But it is a reminder that Covid is not the only disease with pandemic potential, and of how easy it is to lose focus when it comes to other possible threats.”

Another pandemic: Officials said it’s unlikely that the bird flu — which is spreading through Israel’s bird population right now — will rival COVID-19 in terms of a pandemic, per Haaretz.
• However, “it is still a possibility that must be prepared for by the government and public health authorities,” Haaretz reports.
• “The risk is always there and is always substantial and as long as humans are in close contact with birds. Then the risk of an event during which high pathogenic avian flu will infect a human and will become transmissible between humans is always possible,” said Eyal Leshem, director of the Center for Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, to Haaretz.

Flashback: The bird flu has been a potential virus for years. It grew a lot of media attention back in the early aughts.
• In fact, in 2006, the H5N1 virus was hitting places in Germany, Egypt and Nigeria. A pandemic seemed possible. Utah leaders even prepared what to do if a pandemic started.
• But, as The Associated Press reported, the virus’ human-to-human transmission rate slowed.
But this isn’t the only bird flu we’ve seen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are plenty of avian influenzas, most marked by the “H” and “N” in their names.
• These letters are used to identify avian influenzas representing different hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins of the specific virus.
For example, in June 2021, a Chinese man become ill with what many considered to be the first human case of H10N3 avian influenza, as I reported for the Deseret News.
• “This infection is an accidental cross-species transmission,” Chinese authorities said in a statement at the time, the AP reported. “The risk of large-scale transmission is low.”

Namibia: Avian Flu Kills 200 Birds [AllAfrica.com, 24 Jan 2022]

By Eveline de Klerk

Investigations are underway to establish whether the suspected Avian Influenza strain that killed over 200 wild birds at the coast can infect humans.

The outbreak of Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu at the coastal towns of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay among aquatic birds have been confirmed over the weekend by the ministry of agriculture.

The ministry also sent out a cautionary message to farmers around the country.

Coastal residents are cautioned not to touch dead birds in any circumstances while health workers have been tasked to be on high alert not to miss people who might have caught the flu, amidst Covid-19, as symptoms may mimic each other.

Bird flu: New outbreak confirmed in Herefordshire [BBC News, 21 Jan 2022]

A second outbreak of avian flu has been confirmed in Herefordshire.

The outbreak was confirmed near Ross-on-Wye on Thursday by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which said all birds at the site would be humanely culled.
A 1.9-mile (3km) protection zone and a 6.2-mile (10km) surveillance zone have been

It is rare for avian flu to pass from birds to humans, typically requiring close, prolonged contact and human-to-human transmission of bird flu is very rare.
Anyone who finds dead birds is advised not to touch them and to report it to Defra.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is currently in place cross the whole of Great Britain to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading among poultry and captive birds.
This makes it a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the country to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.

Bird flu: New outbreak confirmed in Herefordshire [BBC News, 21 Jan 2022]

A second outbreak of avian flu has been confirmed in Herefordshire.

The outbreak was confirmed near Ross-on-Wye on Thursday by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which said all birds at the site would be humanely culled.
A 1.9-mile (3km) protection zone and a 6.2-mile (10km) surveillance zone have been established around the premises.

Another control zone is also in action in the county near Clifford after a confirmed outbreak in December.

There have been a large number of incidents and outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in birds across the UK.

It is rare for avian flu to pass from birds to humans, typically requiring close, prolonged contact and human-to-human transmission of bird flu is very rare.

Anyone who finds dead birds is advised not to touch them and to report it to Defra.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is currently in place cross the whole of Great Britain to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading among poultry and captive birds.

This makes it a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the country to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.

Bird Flu: 2 People Dead In China From H5N6 Avian Influenza [Forbes, 16 Jan 2022]

BY Bruce Y. Lee

Avian influenza A (H5N6) can be a fowl virus to get, so to speak. An outbreak of this clucking virus has now unfortunately left two people dead, two others in critical condition, and a fifth in serious condition in China, according to the Department of Health for Hong Kong.

All of these cases of the bird flu have been in mainland China and not Hong Kong. All five of these patients got sick and were hospitalized last month in December. None of them have made it out of the hospital alive yet. One of the deaths was a 75 year old male from Luzhou, Sichuan, who first got sick on December 1, was admitted to the hospital three day later, and passed away on December 12. The second was a 54 year old man from Leshan, Sichuan, who succumbed on December 24, after eight days in the hospital, 16 days after he had first noticed symptoms. Both had had exposure to live domestic poultry.

Three of the patients are still in the hospital with two in critical condition: a 51 year old female from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and a 28 year old male from Liuzhou, Guangxi, both of whom have been hospitalized since mid-December. The person who’s in serious condition is a 53 year old male from Liuzhou, Guangxi, who’s been in the hospital since December 23.

This obviously is bad news for those affected. The H5N6 strain is usually for the birds, so to speak. Since 2014, there have only been 63 reported human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) in China. Therefore, human immune systems don’t tend to be very familiar this strain of flu virus. Thus, when your body gets infected with such a virus, it can behave like a guy who’s been on a date for the first time. It doesn’t know what to do and end up firing in random directions, potentially causing more damage than good. This means that the risk of bad outcomes and death are much higher than for more typical human strains of influenza.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP), which is within the Hong Kong Department of Health, is now warning anyone traveling to mainland China and any other affected areas to avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms. They should be alert to the presence of backyard poultry when visiting relatives and friends. They should also avoid purchasing live or freshly slaughtered poultry, and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings. They should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when visiting any place with live poultry.

Also, if you’ve gone to any of the affected areas and develop symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as you can. Tell your doctor about any encounters with poultry you may have had. This is not the time to be coy about your drunken night out partying with chickens. The CHP suggests wearing a mask if you have any fever or respiratory symptoms until you can get a clear diagnosis.

Another CHP warning is to avoid touching bird droppings. Of course, this is good advice for practically all situations regardless of the bird flu situation. There is rarely a situation where public health officials will encourage you to touch bird droppings. In fact, droppings aren’t the only thing from birds that can transmit the virus. Therefore, you should be careful about touching your bird in general. Or any bird for that matter.

Furthermore, the CHP specifically says, “When buying live chickens, do not touch them and their droppings. Do not blow at their bottoms.” In other words, if your evening will consist of blowing at chickens’ bottoms, reconsider your plans. Blowing at anyone’s bottom is probably not a great idea, unless you’ve been specifically invited to do so.

The CHP offers some cooking advice as well. They urge you to cook eggs and poultry
thoroughly. That means egg whites and yolk should become firm. Here’s a segment from Inside Edition on how to tell whether your eggs are safe to eat:
Adequately cooked poultry meat shouldn’t have pinkish juice running through it or reddish portions. It shouldn’t talk to or run away from you either.

On top of all this, don’t forget to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. This is preferable to using hand sanitizer. Make sure your lather up with soap for at least 20 seconds. For reference, if you sing the Divinyls song “I Touch Myself” at the same time, 20 seconds will get you past the first chorus.

While this outbreak is concerning, don’t respond to this news by flapping your arms, yelling “another pandemic, another pandemic,” and panicking. So far, there’s no evidence that this will turn into anything more than a limited outbreak. The influenza A(H5N6) virus can only spread so far without human-to-human transmission, as I’ve covered for Forbes previously. After all, birds have not taken over and integrated themselves into our society yet. And the CHP did not mention any evidence of people getting infected by another person. Three of the five patients had confirmed exposure to live domestic poultry. One had exposure to dead poultry.
Investigators are in the midst of confirming whether the 28 year old male had exposure to any type of poultry.

Nevertheless, it will be important to follow this situation closely and make sure that not too many other people get the bird, the bird flu that is. Such viruses can mutate change unexpectedly. To adapt a quote from Ferris Bueller, viruses can move pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss them.

Britain's bird flu 'patient zero' is BANNED from keeping ducks for a year [Daily Mail, 14 Jan 2022]

By CONNOR BOYD

• Alan Gosling has been told he can't adopt any new ducks for a year, family claim
• His flock of 160 birds were culled last month to prevent a deadly flu outbreak
• 'They took away all his friends, now he is left with nothing,' daughter-in-law said

Britain's bird flu 'patient zero' has been left 'absolutely distraught' after being banned from keeping ducks for more than a year.

Alan Gosling's flock of 160 pet ducks were culled earlier this month after some were found to be infected with a deadly strain of the virus.

The grandfather, 79, also tested positive and is thought to have caught the disease from one of the 20 Muscovy birds he kept inside his home in Buckfastleigh, Devon.

Mr Gosling said this week he planned to adopt more ducks after finishing his self-isolation period after being left heartbroken by the death of his flock. But relatives revealed today that he has been told he can't have any pet birds for a whole year.

Daughter-in-law Ellesha Gosling, 26, said: 'When the ducks were killed, his only bit of hope was that he'd be able to get more.

'He thought hope was not lost because he could fill the void after losing his closest companions.

'But now he's been told it's not safe for new ducks to go onto his land for a whole year. Dad's face dropped when he was told.

'It really hurt him because that's what was keeping him going. They took away all his friends and now he has been left with nothing.'

The family say they have not been told why Mr Gosling has been banned from getting new pets. The Animal and Plant Health Agency has been approached for comment.

All of Mr Gosling's adopted ducks were culled after several of them fell ill in late December - leaving him alone for Christmas.

A few days later he also was confirmed to be the first UK case - despite having no symptoms - and has remained isolated in his empty home since.

He said of the culling: 'I keep turning it over in my head and when I go to sleep it's what I dream about - it never leaves my mind.

'They were like my family and I miss them like hell. I hand-reared them from chicks and some of them were 12 or 13 years old.'

Mr Gosling tested negative for the virus on Sunday and has since been given the all-clear.

Ellesha and husband Richard Gosling, 47, said they have been told no ducks will be allowed in his home or garden for at least 12 months.

She added: 'We were told that his property wouldn't be suited to a full cleanse then a restock.

'Dad's face dropped when he was told he couldn't have any more for a year - he couldn't believe it.

'He is absolutely distraught. When the ducks were killed, his only bit of hope was that he'd be able to get more.

'He thought all was not lost because of that, but now he has been told no - it really hurt him. They took away all his friends and now he has been left with nothing.'

Mr Gosling is the first ever human case of H5N1 — which is fatal for up to half of the people it infects — recorded in the UK and Europe.

Despite killing millions of poultry worldwide, animal to human transmission of H5N1 is extremely rare.

There have been fewer than 1,000 cases globally since the virus emerged in the late 1990s. Human-to-human spread is even rarer.

Mr Gosling is believed to have started co-living with ducks after his divorce from ex wife June Axford, who also lives in Buckfastleigh,

She told MailOnline: 'He never kept any ducks or birds when we were together.' She said the couple divorced more than 20 years ago, but she added that despite being in the same small town, they never saw each other.

H5N1 has for years been highlighted as a potential pandemic threat due to how contagious it is in animals.

It is feared that as the virus spreads, it may acquire mutations which make it easier to infect humans.

The current H5N1 outbreak is the largest bird flu crisis ever recorded in Britain, with 2million poultry culled as part of efforts to control the virus.

Britain's outbreak is part of the spiralling crisis currently ravaging Europe and has been going on for weeks, which sparked fears of a turkey shortage in the run-up to Christmas.

Bird to human transmission of bird flu — also known as avian flu — is rare and has only occurred a small number of times in the UK. However, the public is being urged not to touch sick or dead birds.

Subsequent human-to-human transmission of avian influenza is even rarer, meaning the risk of a major outbreak in people is deemed to be even lower.

A virus that kills up to 50% of humans... but transmission is rare: Everything you need to know about bird flu

What is bird flu?
Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among bird species but can, on rare occasions, jump to human beings.

Like human influenza there are many strains of bird flu:
• H5N1
• H7N9
• H5N6
• H5N8

The current outbreak in birds in the UK is H5N1, the strain that the infected Briton has.

Where has it been spotted in the UK?
A case of bird flu has been spotted in a human in the South West of England.

Officials did not disclose the exact location of the case, but UKHSA said all close personal contacts of the individual have been traced and there is 'no evidence' of the infection having spread to anyone else.

The UK is facing a particularly bad year for cases in birds, with around one million having to be culled in Lincolnshire — where the virus was first spotted on December 11.

Exclusion sites were put around Mablethorpe, Alford and South Elkington in the region.

There have also been outbreaks North Yorkshire and Pocklington in East Yorkshire.

How deadly is the virus?
Fatality rates for bird flu in humans have been estimated to be as high as 50 per cent.

But because transmission to humans is so rare, fewer than 500 bird flu deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization since 1997.

Paul Wigley, professor of avian infection and immunity at the University of Liverpool, said: 'The advice given by APHA and UKHSA over contact with infected birds is sensible and should be followed.

'The risk of wider infection in the general public remains low.'

Is it transmissible from birds to humans?
Cases of bird-to-human transmission are rare and usually do not spread on human-to-human.

Bird flu is spread by close contact with an infected bird or the body of one.

This can include:
• touching infected birds
• touching droppings or bedding
• killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, said: 'Transfer of avian flu to people is rare as it requires direct contact between an infected, usually dead, bird and the individual concerned.

'It is a risk for the handlers who are charged with the disposal of carcasses after an outbreak but the virus does not spread generally and poses little threat.

'It does not behave like the seasonal flu we are used to.

'Despite the current heightened concern around viruses there is no risk to chicken meat or eggs and no need for public alarm.'

What are the symptoms? Symptoms of bird flue usually take three to five days to appear with the most common being:
• a very high temperature
• or feeling hot or shivery
• aching muscles
• headache
• a cough or shortness of breath

Bird flu: Belfast Zoo takes action to prevent spread of disease [BBC News, 11 Jan 2022]

Belfast Zoo has introduced new measures to prevent the spread of bird flu among its flocks, including moving some species into enclosed areas.

The zoo said its free-roaming bird species had been moved into enclosed habitats but that all birds could still be viewed by visitors

It added that "additional precautions" had been taken to stop wild bird entering into any of its enclosures.

Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park in Cork have moved birds indoors.

A spokesperson for Belfast Zoo added: "Belfast Zoo follows strict biosecurity measures as required by the Department of Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums."

Visitors to Dublin Zoo will not be able to see the Humboldt penguin, Chilean flamingo, waldrapp ibis, ostrich, little egret, peafowl, citron-crested cockatoo or the Indian runner duck, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

Last month, Fota Wildlife Park announced it was housing its Humboldt penguins and blue-throated macaws and closing its duck feeder.

"These measures have been taken to reduce the risk of the avian influenza/bird flu spreading from migratory birds to the captive populations in Fota Wildlife Park," it said.

Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a disease that spreads among birds and there have been a number of outbreaks across the UK and Ireland in recent weeks, leading to culls of some commercial flocks.

Although it is extremely rare and the risk to human health is considered very low, some strains of bird flu can pass from birds to people.

Earlier in January, UK officials confirmed that a person living in the south-west of England had caught bird flu - the first human case in the UK.

Experts said there was no evidence of onward spread and all close contacts of the person were being monitored.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was put in place across Great Britain on 3 November last year and the same measure was introduced in Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland on 17 November.

Deadly bird flu threatens Israel's wildlife, triggers hunting ban [National Geographic, 10 Jan 2022]

BYDINA FINE MARON
The outbreak is 'worst blow to wildlife' in the country's history.

Israel has canceled the final month of its five month-long hunting season in a bid to contain a severe bird flu outbreak that’s killed as many as 8,000 wild cranes and sparked concerns about infection among threatened bird species.

Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg tweeted in December that this outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu is the “worst blow to wildlife” in Israel’s history and that the full extent of its damage is “still unclear.”

The January hunting ban will help limit human-wildlife interactions. The ministry says it’s concerned that hunters unwittingly could spread the disease by carrying the virus on their shoes, tires, or via the dogs they use to collect the ducks and pigeons they shoot. Also, other birds disturbed by hunters may fly to new sites, spreading the virus. (The ministry did not respond to requests for comment about if there’s any evidence that hunters already had contributed to spread in these ways.)

H5N1 was first detected at Israeli poultry farms about two months ago and it’s since been confirmed as the cause of death among common cranes, with a fifth of the population of majestic, long-necked birds already infected, according to Israeli authorities.

Each fall, the cranes migrate from Russia, Ukraine, and Scandinavia to wintering grounds in Ethiopia and elsewhere, including Israel, where tens of thousands await the spring, many around a lake in the Hula Valley. There, in the north of the country, workers in hazmat suits have been scooping up the bodies of cranes from the water and surrounding areas.

As with human influenza viruses, there are many strains of avian influenza, some more deadly than others. H5N1 is particularly virulent this season. It has hopscotched across Europe, where thousands of barnacle geese died in Scotland last month, and recently spread to North America.

Avian flu can sicken other animals too, including those that eat infected birds or their remains. To help control its spread in Israel, about a million farmed turkeys, ducks, and hens have been killed, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

People rarely have contracted H5N1, and typically only after lengthy exposure to infected birds. The last reported H5N1 human infection occurred in India in July 2021. So far, no Israeli cases have been detected, but last week, a case in southwestern England was reported to the World Health Organization, although the particular strain still has to be identified. Israeli governmental guidance advises that poultry and eggs are safe to eat if they’re properly cooked.

The hunting ban is a “preventive measure” to protect both wildlife and people, says Yoav Perlman, the director of BirdLife Israel, an arm of the nonprofit Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. His group has been helping count the thousands of dead cranes. He says a few other wild birds—mostly pelicans, herons, and some raptors—have been confirmed with the virus.

Crane deaths are tapering off, but “we are concerned that avian flu might hit raptors, especially eagles in the Hula Valley and other valleys where cranes concentrate,” Perlman says. Hula Valley is important as a wintering site for globally threatened greater spotted eagles and eastern imperial eagles and for white-tailed eagles, which are threatened in Israel. The eagles are scavengers and have been seen feeding on dead cranes in the Hula Valley, he says.

Other threatened birds at risk in Israel include the endangered white-headed duck, with about 10 percent of its global population passing the winter in Israel at reservoirs also used by cranes and other waterbirds, according to Perlman. Also, he says, the globally threatened MacQueen’s bustard shares foraging and roosting sites with cranes in the northern Negev.
Origins of the deadly virus

The H5N1 virus was first detected in 1996, in geese in China, and in humans in 1997 during a poultry outbreak in Hong Kong. In subsequent years, it’s been found in many countries around the world, showing up in Israel in March 2006, where it’s occurred almost every year since. The current outbreak is different, Israeli officials say, because it’s causing massive mortality rates among infected birds.

“No one knows why this time it’s so severe,” says ornithologist Yossi Leshem, a professor emeritus at Tel Aviv University. Humans may have helped fuel some of the transmission, he says. As part of a government bird feeding program designed to keep the cranes from eating farmers’ crops, workers put out corn for them, causing dense concentrations of the birds in a small area. “It almost certainly increased the infection rates of this avian flu outbreak,” Perlman adds.

For the future, Perlman says, “relevant conservation authorities and stakeholders will need to think hard about the feeding and the role of feeding.” But for now, they’re watching for further signs of H5N1. “This is by far the largest avian influenza event in cranes globally,” he says. It’s “unprecedented, and we need to investigate what happened.”

Man with bird flu heartbroken after flock culled [BBC News, 7 Jan 2022]

Mr Gosling said he had always cared for wild birds and rescued many from his local area
A man who tested positive for bird flu says he is "absolutely broken-hearted" after his flock of birds was culled on New Year's Day.

Alan Gosling from Buckfastleigh, Devon, tested positive for avian flu after his flock was confirmed to be infected.

Health officials said there was no evidence of onward transmission and all close contacts were being monitored.

The government said the birds were "humanely culled in order to limit the risk of the disease".
The 79-year-old said he had always cared for wild birds and rescued many from his local area.
'I'm disgusted'

Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a type of influenza that spreads among birds.

The UK has recently seen a large number of outbreaks and incidents of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in birds.

Human-to-human transmission of bird flu is very rare.

Mr Gosling said: "All my chickens have been killed, they're all gone - I haven't got any left at all, they destroyed the lot, including my ducklings as well.

"I'm disgusted, I'm absolutely broken-hearted, I've never felt this way in my life after losing something so close to me.

"They're absolutely fantastic animals and for them to be destroyed like that with no thought about the people involved, just killed them and that's it."

The lake where many of Mr Gosling's wild birds would reside near his home

More than 100 ducks living outside Mr Gosling's house and in the surrounding area were culled to prevent the spread of disease.

Mr Gosling said he also kept about 20 ducks inside his home that were unwell.

He was unaware he had the virus until he was advised to have a test.

He said: "For 20 years I've been looking after these chickens now, some were about 13 years old.

"I felt as healthy as I always have been, I didn't have any flu symptoms or any aches."

Mr Gosling is now in isolation, and is unable to see anyone.

A spokesperson from the Animal and Plant Health Agency said: "These birds tested positive for bird flu and, in line with our standard procedure, were humanely culled in order to limit the risk of the disease spreading to other birds and to manage the potential risk to public health.

"Our sympathies remain with the owner and all those with animals affected by this terrible disease."

Israel detects bird flu outbreak in 107000 turkeys [Xinhua, 6 Jan 2022]

JERUSALEM, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israel detected on Wednesday an outbreak of the pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in about 107,000 turkeys, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a statement.

The flu-infected turkeys were found in a farm in the village of Aviel near the coastal town of Caesarea, according to the ministry.

This hotspot joins two coops in the northern village of Ram On, where 62,500 infected turkeys were detected on Tuesday, and dozens of coops with infected chickens and turkeys in northern and southern Israel detected in recent weeks.

The outbreaks resulted in the killing of hundreds of thousands of chickens and caused an egg shortage in Israel.

"Ministry workers continue to work around the clock to eradicate the spread of the virus, and continue to maintain human and animal health," said Israeli Agriculture Minister Oded Forer.

The contagious H5N1 bird flu can also infect other animals such as cats, pigs, and tigers, and in rare cases humans as well.

New Coronavirus News from 29 Jan 2022

"NeoCov": Chinese Scientists Warn Of New Kind Of Coronavirus From Bats [NDTV, 29 Jan 2022]

New Type Of Coronavirus NeoCov: Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wuhan University noted that NeoCov is found in a population of bats in South Africa and to date spreads exclusively among these animals.

Beijing:
A type of coronavirus, NeoCov, that spreads among bats in South Africa may pose a threat to humans in future if it mutates further, according to a study by Chinese researchers.

The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study recently posted on the preprint repository BioRxiv, shows that NeoCov is closely related to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a viral disease first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wuhan University noted that NeoCov is found in a population of bats in South Africa and to date spreads exclusively among these animals.

In its current form, NeoCov does not infect humans but further mutations may make it potentially harmful, the researchers noted.

"In this study, we unexpectedly found that NeoCoV and its close relative, PDF-2180-CoV, can efficiently use some types of bat Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and, less favourably, human ACE2 for entry," the authors of the study noted.

ACE2 is a receptor protein on cells that provides the entry point for the coronavirus to hook into and infect a wide range of cells.

"Our study demonstrates the first case of ACE2 usage in MERS-related viruses, shedding light on a potential bio-safety threat of the human emergence of an ACE2 using "MERS-CoV-2" with both high fatality and transmission rate," they said.

The researchers further noted that infection with NeoCov could not be cross-neutralised by antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV.

"Considering the extensive mutations in the RBD regions of the SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the heavily mutated Omicron variant, these viruses may hold a latent potential to infect humans through further adaptation," the authors of the study added.

A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a key part of a virus that allows it to dock to body receptors to gain entry into cells and lead to infection.

Beijing Winter Olympics reports jump in daily Covid cases [The Guardian, 29 Jan 2022]

Number of infections rises by 19 as Games organisers warn of more cases in coming days

China has reported a jump in Covid cases among athletes and team officials at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The number of daily Covid infections rose to 19 on Friday from two a day earlier, and Games organisers said more cases could be expected in the coming days.

Thirty-six Games-related personnel, including the athletes and officials, have been found to be infected, 29 when they arrived at the airport in Beijing and seven already in the “closed loop” bubble that separates event personnel from the public, the organising committee said in a statement on Saturday.

“We are now just going through the peak period of people arriving in China and therefore we expect to see the highest numbers at this stage,” the Games’ medical chief, Brian McCloskey, told a news conference.

Organisers are confident in their Covid-19 prevention system and infections are unlikely to leak out to the public, he said.

Cases among athletes and team officials exceeded those for “other stakeholders”, including media, sponsors and staff, for the first time since China started releasing daily numbers of Olympics-related coronavirus cases on 23 January, according to a Reuters tally of previous statements.

“It’s annoying that every morning you need to get up a little earlier specially to get a PCR test. I think that in a few days, it will be like brushing your teeth,” the Russian ice hockey player Anton Slepyshev told the RIA news agency.

“Everyone is concerned that the test result will suddenly turn out to be positive, but the reality is such that we are living with Covid. We accept all the risks and fears.”

The Games are to run from Friday to 20 February, its bubble sealed off from the rest of China, where the government’s zero-tolerance Covid-19 policy has all but shut the country’s border to international arrivals.

New Coronavirus News from 11 Jan 2022

What Is 'Flurona'? Cases of Co-Infections Increase Amid Peak Influenza Season and Omicron Variant Surge [Smithsonian, 11 Jan 2022]

By Elizabeth Gamillo

In the United States, most infections are being reported in young children and teens
As the flu season in the United States hits its peak, scattered cases of individuals testing positive for Covid-19 and the flu are emerging, reports Ed Cara for Gizmodo. Cases of so-called "flurona" refer to simultaneous infections of both SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and influenza. Flurona is not a new virus, nor is it an official medical term or diagnosis.

“Yes, it is possible to catch both diseases at the same time,” the World Health Organization (WHO) explains in a statement. “The most effective way to prevent hospitalization and severe Covid-19 and influenza is vaccination with both vaccines.”

Reports of co-infection in the U.S. have occurred since the pandemic began in 2020. For instance, a New York man was seen at a hospital for fever and a severe cough in late February 2020. At this time, the city had not reported any cases of Covid-19. After being swabbed, the man tested positive for influenza, and he was also swabbed for Covid-19. When the results came in few weeks later in early March, he found out he had also tested positive for Covid-19, reported Roxanne Khamsi for the Atlantic in November 2021.

By late summer 2020, experts cautioned of the possibility of a “twindemic” where both Covid-19 and flu cases could threaten to overwhelm hospitals with infected patients, per the Atlantic.
However, the rises of co-infection did not occur during the 2020 to 2021 flu season, possibly due to mask-wearing and social distancing, and overall, flu cases were actually lower than usual.

Still, more recently, experts anticipate more co-infection cases as the Omicron variant continues to surge and infect a record-breaking number of Americans during peak flu season, reports Nathan Place for the Independent.

More reported cases of flurona, or a dual infection of the flu virus and coronavirus, have already been reported in various parts of the globe. In the first week of January, Israel confirmed its first case of flurona when an unvaccinated pregnant woman with mild symptoms tested positive for both the seasonal flu and Covid-19, per the Times of Israel.

A growing number of co-infection cases in children are also being reported in the U.S., reports the New York Times’ Amelia Nierenberg. A teenager from Los Angeles tested positive for both Covid-19 and the flu last week after returning from a family vacation in Mexico. Hospitals in South Florida and in Houston, Texas, have also reported flurona cases in children and teens, per the Independent. Officials say this is no surprise since younger age groups are more susceptible to co-infection than adults.

Experts are still debating whether co-infection is more severe than only having Covid-19 alone, per the Independent. With more reports on the rise, doctors and public health experts are emphasizing that vaccines against Covid-19 and influenza are the best way to protect against cases of severe infection, reports Jennifer Hassan for the Washington Post.

Here’s a breakdown of what experts know so far:
Will a Co-Infection Make Individuals Twice as Sick or Worse?

“I expect to see plenty of co-infections (of flu and COVID-19) going forward, but I don’t see anything that suggests it makes COVID infections worse,” says Frank Esper, a physician at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, to USA Today’s Adrianna Rodriguez. “Those are two viral pathogens that we actually have medicines for.”

While a dual infection could cause more complications, it could also trigger an even more robust defense response because immune system can simultaneously create antibodies for multiple pathogens, says Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist who studies influenza at the University of California Irvine, to the New York Times.

Which Groups Are More Susceptible to a Co-Infection?

Immunocompromised individuals and children, especially those who are too young for Covid-19 vaccines, are more likely to develop flurona symptoms.

Children are more likely to get multiple infections at once, like walking Petri dishes, per the New York Times. Children generally experience co-infections more frequently than adults.

Despite the presence of two viruses in their systems, children don't seem to become much sicker.

Because children haven't been exposed to most common viruses yet, their immunity has not been built up against different viral strains of the flu, USA Today reports. However, this does not mean that children will be overwhelmed with flurona. Covid-19 cases in children have been milder than those in adults.

Unvaccinated adults are also more susceptible to co-infection. Individuals who refuse one vaccine might refuse other types of vaccines as well, making them more vulnerable to co-infections, as Saad B. Omer, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, tells the New York Times.

What Are the Symptoms of a Coronavirus and Influenza Co-Infection?

Both Covid-19 and seasonal influenza infections affect the respiratory system. They also share comparable symptoms like fever, fatigue, coughing, a runny nose, a sore or scratchy throat, muscle and body aches, and even diarrhea, per the Washington Post.

How Can I Protect Myself and Others?

Respiratory viruses like influenza and Covid-19 are transmitted through droplets or aerosols.
These transmission methods occur when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Droplets and aerosols can also be dispersed through speaking, singing, and breathing. To prevent infection, the WHO encourages getting vaccinated for both Covid-19 and the flu, practicing social distancing, wearing a well-fitted mask, and avoiding overly crowded or poorly ventilated places and settings.

BA.2 'stealth' variant makes up 80% of Kolkata's Omicron infections [Times of India, 11 Jan 2022]

BY Sumati Yengkhom

KOLKATA: Nearly 80% of Covid-positive samples sent for genome-sequencing by laboratories in the city have been found to contain the BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, nicknamed the 'stealth version', as it cannot be picked up in RT-PCR tests and requires genome-sequencing.

Interestingly, almost none of those found infected with BA.2 had any immediate history of foreign travel; the other sub-lineage - BA.1 - has been detected in those who had travelled abroad in the recent past, said a senior health official.

From the original B.1.1.529 variant (first detected in South Africa), Omicron has now split into three sub-types: BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3. No instance of BA.3 has so far been identified in India. In Maharashtra and some other states, BA.1 is dominantly circulating in the community, rapidly replacing the Delta variant, as reported in Monday's TOI.

BA.2 cannot be identified by primers used in the RT-PCR test. The BA.1 sub-lineage carries the characteristic S-gene dropout mutation, which BA.2 does not. The absence of an S-gene mutation in an RT-PCR test is, therefore, indicative of an Omicron indication. But, to identify a BA.2 infection, genome-sequencing is a must.

Around 150 positive samples from the community have already been sequenced. While about 80% are Omicron-positive, all were found BA.2-positive, except for one or two samples. All these samples had a CT value below 30, indicating high viral load. These samples were sent for genome-sequencing between December 22 and 28.

'BA.2 reason for cluster infection'
The findings indicate that the BA.2 sub-lineage is dominantly circulating in the community in Kolkata and adjoining areas, from where most of the samples had been sent for genome-sequencing. "It is possible that BA.2 is causing the local cluster infection. Even as this sub-lineage is different from its other siblings, genetically it belongs to the same family and hence there is no significant difference in the clinical course of the disease," said immunologist Dipyaman Ganguly from the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology.

In the samples sent by one laboratory, 34 Covid-positive samples were found with BA.2. One sample was Omicron BA.1 and eight were Delta and Delta plus. Of the 17 Covid-positive samples sent by another lab, 14 were Omicron and belonged to the BA.2 lineage and the rest Delta. Findings on the 50 samples sent by the third lab showed that 35 were BA.2.

Omicron live updates
"The virus will keep mutating. Hence the need for genomic sequence surveillance," said Peerless Hospital microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri.

The government, around the third week of December, had decided to send all positive samples with CT value under 30 for genome-sequencing to detect community transmission of Omicron. Accordingly, labs in Kolkata, Salt Lake and New Town started sending in samples. The health department had reversed the decision a week later when it was clear that community transmission of Omicron had begun.

"About 70% of our samples tested positive to Omicron, mostly of the BA.2 lineage. This was a week ago. Given the high transmissibility, presence of Omicron is likely to have increased a lot more," said Shelly Sharma Ganguly, AMRI Dhakuria microbiologist.

The health department has asked labs to send only those samples that have foreign travel history.

"Omicron is replacing Delta. Though there is an indication about the BA.2 subtype being more prevalent, we need a bigger sample size to draw a conclusion," said RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences microbiologist Swatilekha Banerjee.