Emerging threats and Infectious Diseases Data Mining at a glance. Research References Library Blog.
[Source: Ouest France, full page: (LINK).]
Grippe aviaire. Un nouveau foyer détecté dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques [ ]
Le ministère recense à ce jour un total de « 13 foyers d’influenza aviaire » dans cinq départements du Sud-Ouest de la France. Ce cas de grippe de type H5N9 a été confirmé vendredi dans un élevage de 1 500 canards à Arrosès (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), à la limite du Gers et des Hautes-Pyrénées,…
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Keywords: Avian Influenza; H5N9; Poultry; France.
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[Source: RTHK, full page: (LINK). Automatic translation, edited.]
Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Wenzhou and other places have found H7N9 bird flu [ ]
2015-12-10 HKT 00:09
Hangzhou CDC said, Shaoxing, Hangzhou and the surrounding, Wenzhou and other places, have been found H7N9 avian influenza. Center, said Hangzhou has entered the H7N9 avian influenza epidemic season; experts reminded the public away from live poultry, pay attention to personal protection. In the last month, since Guangdong Meizhou diagnosed winter, the first case of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza, the patient was a 70-year-old farmer.
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Keywords: Avian Influenza; China; Guangdong; H7N9; Poultry; Human.
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[Source: Ouest France, full page: (LINK).]
Grippe aviaire. Quatre nouveaux foyers en Dordogne et en Haute-Vienne
« Le nombre total de foyers d’influenza aviaire hautement pathogène pour les volailles s’élève désormais à 10, soit 4 de plus que les 6 déjà déclarés à la date du lundi 7 décembre », a indiqué le ministère dans un communiqué, précisant que « sur ces 4 nouveaux cas, trois ont été détectés en…
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Keywords: France; Avian Influenza; Poultry.
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H7N9 situation update – 8 December 2015, 17:00 hours; Rome [ ][ ]
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Disclaimer
Overview
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Map. Human cases and positive findings in birds or the environment
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Note:
Human cases are depicted in the geographic location where they were reported; for some cases, exposure may have occurred in a different geographic location. Precise location of 49 human cases in Fujian (28), Jiangsu (8), Zhejiang (11), Guangdong (1), Hunan (1) and Xinjiang (1) are currently not known. These cases are therefore not shown on the map. Imported cases in Canada (2) and Malaysia (1) are also not represented.
Situation update
Animals
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Figure 1. Number of positive virological samples from birds or the environment, by province and origin as of 8 December 2015
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Humans
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Figure 2. Number of officially reported human cases since February 2013 as of 8 December 2015
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Figure 3. Incidence of officially reported human cases by month, based on onset date as of 8 December 2015
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Note:
For cases with unknown onset dates from wave 1 (n=7), wave 2 (n=2), wave 3 (n=146) and wave 4 (n=2), reporting dates were used instead.
Publications
In addition to the surveillance findings by MoA and MoH, 1,728 virologically positive samples have also been reported in 12 peer-reviewed articles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). A total of 71,920 samples have been collected in these studies since April 2013, of which 1,728(2.4%) were positive for H7N9 (1,215 environmental samples, 501 chickens, 1 goose and 1 tree sparrow).
Figure 4. Publicly available genetic sequences by infection wave (October – September) and species
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Source: OpenfluDB and GISAID
FAO’s support to countries
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Keywords: FAO; Updates; H7N9; Avian Influenza; Poultry; Human; China.
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[Source: CNN Arabic, full page: (LINK). Automatic translation, edited.]
#Egypt, #H5N1: 370 #poultry #outbreaks this year according to the authorities [ ][ ]
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) – renewed fears of an outbreak of “bird flu” disease again in Egypt, with the announcement of the official authorities that detected at least 370 foci of infection of the deadly virus in the various governorates of the Republic during the year 2015.
The General Authority for Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, in a statement Monday said that it gained control of the outbreaks discovered through the Central Administration of Preventive Medicine teams, and provided veterinary vaccines to contain the disease.
The statement – reported by “News Egypt”, citing the MENA News Agency – pointed out that the outbreaks monitored during the current year, included 310 “domestic breeding” [backyard poultry flocks], and 41 “farms”, and 16 cases in poultry markets, in addition to 3 “seizures” ….
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Keywords: Egypt; H5N1; Avian Influenza; Poultry; Human.
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[Source: US National Library of Medicine, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
J Infect. 2015 Nov 26. pii: S0163-4453(15)00365-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2015.10.013. [Epub ahead of print]
Ongoing transmission of avian influenza A viruses in Hong Kong despite very comprehensive poultry control measures: a prospective seroepidemiology study. [ ]
To KK1, Hung IF2, Lui YM3, Mok FK3, Chan AS3, Li PT3, Wong TL3, Ho DT3, Chan JF1, Chan KH1, Yuen KY4.
Author information: 1State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 2Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 3Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. 4State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Electronic address: kyyuen@hku.hk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Stringent measures have been implemented in Hong Kong to prevent human infections due to avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Here, we report the seroprevalence of AIVs among high risk population.
METHODS:
In this prospective study, blood samples were collected in October and November 2013 and in July 2014 from workers at live poultry market (LPM) and pig/cattle slaughterhouse (SH) in Hong Kong. Serum antibody titers against A(H5N1), A(H7N9) and A(H9N2) were determined.
RESULTS:
When an hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer of 40 was used as the cutoff, the A(H5N1) seropositive rate among LPM workers increased from 0% in 2013 to 37.8% in 2014 (P<0.001) and the A(H9N2) seropositive rate increased from 10% to 55.6% (P<0.001). There was no significant increase in A(H7N9) seropositive rate for LPM workers irrespective of cutoff titer. For SH workers, there was no significant increase in HI titer for any AIVs. Significantly more LPM workers had a ≥4-fold increase in A(H5N1) HI titer from 2013 to 2014 than SH workers (60% vs 8.3%, P=0.020).
CONCLUSIONS:
There was a significant increase of serum A(H5N1) and A(H9N2) HI titers among Hong Kong LPM workers between 2013 and 2014, suggesting the occurrence of subclinical AIV infections in this population.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS: H5N1; H7N9; H9N2; Hong Kong; avian influenza; epidemiology; seroprevalence
PMID: 26632329 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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Keywords: Research; Abstracts; H7N9; H5N1; H9N2; Avian Influenza; Poultry; HK PRC SAR; Human; Seroprevalence.
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[Source: US National Library of Medicine, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
PLoS One. 2015 Dec 1;10(12):e0143582. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143582.
Live Bird Exposure among the General Public, Guangzhou, China, May 2013. [ ]
Liao Q1, Yuan J2, Lau EH1, Chen GY3, Yang ZC2, Ma XW2, Chen JD2, Liu YH2, Wang C2, Tang XP4, Liu YF2, Zhuo L4, Leung GM1, Zhang W5, Cowling BJ1, Wang M2, Fielding R1.
Author information: 1School of Public Health, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China. 2Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China. 3Panyu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China. 4The Eighth People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China. 5Guangdong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
A novel avian-origin influenza A(H7N9) caused a major outbreak in Mainland China in early 2013. Exposure to live poultry was believed to be the major route of infection. There are limited data on how the general public changes their practices regarding live poultry exposure in response to the early outbreak of this novel influenza and the frequency of population exposure to live poultry in different areas of China.
METHODOLOGY:
This study investigated population exposures to live birds from various sources during the outbreak of H7N9 in Guangzhou city, China in 2013 and compared them with those observed during the 2006 influenza A(H5N1) outbreak. Adults were telephone-interviewed using two-stage sampling, stratified by three residential areas of Guangzhou: urban areas and two semi-rural areas in one of which (Zengcheng) A(H7N9) virus was detected in a chicken from wet markets. Logistic regression models were built to describe practices protecting against avian influenza, weighted by age and gender, and then compare these practices across residential areas in 2013 with those from a comparable 2006 survey.
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:
Of 1196 respondents, 45% visited wet markets at least daily and 22.0% reported buying live birds from wet markets at least weekly in April-May, 2013, after the H7N9 epidemic was officially declared in late March 2013. Of those buying live birds, 32.3% reported touching birds when buying and 13.7% would slaughter the poultry at home. Although only 10.1% of the respondents reported raising backyard birds, 92.1% of those who did so had physical contact with the birds they raised. Zengcheng respondents were less likely to report buying live birds from wet markets, but more likely to buy from other sources when compared to urban respondents. Compared with the 2006 survey, the prevalence of buying live birds from wet markets, touching when buying and slaughtering birds at home had substantially declined in the 2013 survey.
CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE:
Although population exposures to live poultry were substantially fewer in 2013 compared to 2006, wet markets and backyard poultry remained the two major sources of live bird exposures for the public in Guangzhou in 2013. Zengcheng residents seemed to have reduced buying live birds from wet markets but not from other sources in response to the detection of H7N9 virus in wet markets.
PMID: 26623646 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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Keywords: Research; Abstracts; H7N9; H5N1; Avian Influenza; Poultry; Human; Live Poultry Markets; China; Guangdong.
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[Source: US National Library of Medicine, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
J Infect Dev Ctries. 2015 Nov 30;9(11):1210-1219. doi: 10.3855/jidc.6546.
Characterization of H5N1 influenza A virus that caused the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Saudi Arabia. [ ]
Al-Qahtani AA1, Mubin M, Almajhdi FN, Alarifi S, Dela Cruz DM, Rehman MS, Ismail MM, Ahmed N, Al-Blowi MH, Khalak H, Al-Ahdal MN.
Author information: 1Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. aqahtani@kfshrc.edu.sa.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Saudi Arabia (SA) experienced a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreak in domesticated birds in 2007.
METHODOLOGY:
Forty-three hemagglutinin (HA) and 41 neuraminidase (NA) genes of HPAI H5N1 viruses were sequenced and phylogenetic analyses of completely sequenced genes were performed to compare with other viral HA and NA gene sequences available in the public databases.
RESULTS:
Molecular characterization of the H5N1 viruses revealed two genetically distinct clades, 2.2.2 and 2.3.1, of H5N1 viruses circulating in the area. Amino acid sequence analysis of the HA gene indicated that the virus from 2.2.2 contained the sequence SPQGERRRK-R/G at the cleavage site, while the virus from 2.3.1 contained the sequence SPQRERRRK-R/G. Additionally, a few mutations with amino acid substitutions such as M226I at N-link glycosylation site were identified in two of these isolates. Amino acid sequence of the NA gene showed a 20-amino-acid deletion in the NA stalk region, required for enhanced virulence of influenza viruses and its adaptation from wild birds to domestic chickens. As close contact between humans and birds is unavoidable, there is a need for a thorough understanding of the virus epidemiology, factors affecting the spread of the virus, and molecular characterization such as phylogeny and substitution rates of H5N1 viruses circulating in the region.
CONCLUSION:
Two genetically distinct clades were found to be circulating in the country, which could likely result in recombination and emergence of more virulent viral strains. These findings could be helpful for the authorities devising control measures against these viruses.
PMID: 26623630 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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Keywords: Research; Abstracts; Avian Influenza; H5N1; Poultry; Wild Birds; Saudi Arabia.
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[Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Personal View
Interventions to reduce zoonotic and pandemic risks from avian influenza in Asia [ ]
J S Malik Peiris, Benjamin J Cowling, Joseph T Wu, Luzhao Feng, Yi Guan, Hongjie Yu, Gabriel M Leung
Published Online: 01 December 2015 / Publication stage: In Press Corrected Proof / DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00502-2
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Summary
Novel influenza viruses continue to emerge, posing zoonotic and potentially pandemic threats, such as with avian influenza A H7N9. Although closure of live poultry markets (LPMs) in mainland China stopped H7N9 outbreaks temporarily, closures are difficult to sustain, in view of poultry production and marketing systems in China. In this Personal View, we summarise interventions taken in mainland China, and provide evidence for other more sustainable but effective interventions in the live poultry market systems that reduce risk of zoonotic influenza including rest days, and banning live poultry in markets overnight. Separation of live ducks and geese from land-based (ie, non-aquatic) poultry in LPM systems can reduce the risk of emergence of zoonotic and epizootic viruses at source. In view of evidence that H7N9 is now endemic in over half of the provinces in mainland China and will continue to cause recurrent zoonotic disease in the winter months, such interventions should receive high priority in China and other Asian countries at risk of H7N9 through cross-border poultry movements. Such generic measures are likely to reduce known and future threats of zoonotic influenza.
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Keywords: Research; Abstracts; Avian Influenza; Asia; China; H7N9; Human; Poultry; Pandemic Influenza; Pandemic Preparedness.
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[Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR, full page: (LINK).]
SFH on monitoring of avian influenza [ ][ ]
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a public function today (November 25):
Reporter: (About stepping up the monitoring measures for avian influenza.)
Secretary for Food and Health:
With the arrival of winter and the drop of ambient temperature, it is expected that the activities of both seasonal influenza as well as avian influenza will increase. Therefore, we will correspondingly step up our measures in monitoring both the carcasses of birds found as well as our local live poultry farms.
Reporter: There is no plan to lift the ban on the importation of chickens from the Mainland?
Secretary for Food and Health:
I need to clarify that there is currently no ban on poultry imported from the Mainland. It is mainly because in the past winter season, we had a positive result in examining one of the batches of imported poultry. Following that, we closed the wholesale market for 21 days. The Mainland authority also correspondingly enhanced their control measures, leading to a decrease in the live poultry supply from the Mainland.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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Keywords: HK PRC SAR; Food Safety; Avian Influenza; Poultry; China.
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ETIDIoH 
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