H5N1 virus strikes tigers in Chinese zoo - 16/2/15 (CIDRAP Article)
The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu virus recently infected eight tigers at a zoo in southern China, killing two of them, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). H5N1 has been found in tigers, leopards, and domestic cats a number of times before.
“The zoo is in Nanning in the autonomous region of Guangxzi, which borders Vietnam, says a Feb 12 FAO notice. The illness in the tigers was first noted on Feb 5, and the virus was identified on Feb 12. Yesterday's China's agriculture ministry indicated that no sick poultry had been found in the Nanning area, according to a machine translation of a statement posted today by the blog Avian Flu Diary. H5N1 has been found in tigers, leopards, and domestic cats a number of times before. For example, several tigers and leopards at a zoo in Thailand died of the infection in 2003 and 2004…..”
H5N1 detected in a back yard poultry flock, Canada – 7/2/15 (OIE WAHIS Report)
This new outbreak in the Avian Influenza Primary Control Zone (PCZ) in the province of British Columbia (BC), in the same area as the previous outbreaks of HPAI H5N2 reported in December 2014. All susceptible animals on site were humanely destroyed. The virus involved is a HPAI H5N1 virus with the H5 gene segment derived from the Eurasian lineage, and N1 derived from North American lineage based on partial sequence.
“Information received on 07/02/2015 from Dr Martine Dubuc, OIE Delegate for Canada, Chief Food Safety Officer Vice-President, Science Branch, Health Ministry, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Canada. Epidemiological Comments: This new outbreak was detected in a backyard poultry flock in the Avian Influenza Primary Control Zone (PCZ) in the province of British Columbia (BC), in the same area as the previous outbreaks of HPAI H5N2 reported in December 2014. All susceptible animals on site were humanely destroyed.
The National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (CFIA - Winnipeg) reported NAI H5 RRT-PCR positive results on 4 February 2015 and partial sequencing of H5 and N1 segments on 5 February. The virus involved is a HPAI H5N1 virus with the H5 gene segment derived from the Eurasian lineage, and N1 derived from North American lineage based on partial sequence. The H5 gene segment is very similar to the reassortant H5N2 in BC and the H5 in the H5N1 reassortant virus detected in a wild green-winged teal just south of the border in Washington State, USA. In addition, the N1 gene segment is very similar to North American wild bird viruses and nearly identical, over the very small fragment sequenced this far, to the N1 in the H5N1 virus detected in a green-winged teal mentioned above……..It is important to note this HPAI H5N1 virus is different from the strain circulating in Asia. It is a reassortant virus with the N1 from a North American wild bird virus. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) continues to monitor the situation and implement strict movement restrictions in the PCZ. Ongoing surveillance is in place in all of Canada. All provinces, with the exception of the PCZ in British Columbia, remain free of Notifiable Avian Influenza in poultry.”