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Archive Number 20100203.0364
Published Date 03-FEB-2010
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (09): Israel (HA) update

AVIAN INFLUENZA (09): ISRAEL (HAIFA) UPDATE
*******************************************
A ProMED-mail post
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ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Wed 3 Feb 2010 [accessed]
Source: Israel's Veterinary Services web-site [abridged, edited]
<http://www.vetserveng.moag.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/1ED200AD-441B-4332-B8D3-9E3C311BC437/7326/report2011.pdf>


A case of influenza H5N1 in a broiler breeder pullet flock in Ein  
Shemer [Israel's report to the EU]
-------------------------------------------------
[This report includes detailed information, additional to yesterday's  
[2 Feb 2010] post 20100202.0355. - Mod.AS]

Following is a description of the case and the measures we have taken  
up to this point [2 Feb 2010]:

Avian influenza H5N1 was detected in a 115 days old broiler breeder  
pullet flock in Ein Shemer, which is in Haifa province in Hadera  
district [map available at the source URL].

Description of the farm
-----------------------
The flock was housed in a high biosecurity farm. The farm is enclosed  
by a fence and the only access is via a sanitary facility (shower and  
changing all clothes in and out). The distances from the sanitary  
facility to the entrances of the poultry houses are between 50 and 100  
meters. The farm consists of 3 adjacent environmentally- and  
light-controlled poultry houses. Each poultry house is divided into 4  
rooms. The disease was discovered only in the middle house and no  
disease was diagnosed in the 2 adjacent poultry houses until the time  
of culling.

The location of the outbreak is 8.3 km [5 mi] away from the last H5N1  
outbreak in Binyamina in 2008. The outbreak in Binyamina occurred also  
in January.

Quarantine and surveillance
---------------------------
A protection zone of 3 km [2 mi] and a surveillance zone of 10 km [6  
mi] have been applied, according to the Israeli procedures based on  
Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 Dec 2005 on Community measures for  
the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC.

List of the villages with commercial or pet birds in the protection  
and surveillance zones (see map): Protection zone: [9 locations  
specified]. Surveillance zone: [21 locations specified] [The names of  
all locations are available at the source URL above].

Diagnosis
---------
On 17 Jan 2010 due to a slight increase of mortality in the middle  
poultry house, tracheal and cloacal swabs were submitted to the  
northern poultry health laboratory and tested by PCR and viral  
isolation and were negative (these sample have been re-tested and were  
found negative). On 24 Jan 2010 there was a high increase in mortality  
and further birds, tracheal and cloacal samples were submitted to the  
northern laboratory and the Avian and Fish Division in the Kimron  
Veterinary Institute. Samples from the chickens were positive to H5N1  
virus by real time-PCR and viral isolation. IVPI [intravenous  
pathogenicity index] is pending.

Culling and disinfection
------------------------
On 27 Jan 2010, the birds in the diseased house were culled by foam  
[for details on this procedure, see  
<http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/poultry_depopulation.asp>.  
-Mod.AS]. The remaining 2 houses were culled by the morning of 28 Jan  
2010. Cleaning and disinfection was finished on 2 Feb 2010. It was  
decided not to cull any other farms as the diseased farm and poultry  
house were high biosecurity facilities as are all the farms within 2  
km [1.2 mi].

Immediate surveillance
----------------------
105 farms in 30 villages are located in the 10 km [6 mi] radius. 9  
farms in the protection zone (0-3 km) [0-2 mi] and 24 farms in the  
surveillance zone (3-10 km) [26 mi] were empty. In the protection zone  
there are 3 hatcheries. Immediate surveillance was carried out on all  
poultry farms and backyard flocks in this radius as detailed in the  
following table:

Poultry type / Protection zone / Surveillance zone
Meat turkeys / 1 / 12
Breeding turkeys / 0 / 3
Broiler chickens / 4 / 3
Table egg pullets / 6 / 2
Table egg layers / 7 / 3
Broiler breeder pullets / 5 / 2
Broiler breeders / 7 / 5
Egg breeder pullets / 1 / 0
Backyard flocks / 6 / 1
Total 68 / 37 / 31

Tracheal and cloacal swabs from all these flocks were tested and [all]  
found negative.

These samples and blood samples were saved for future viral isolation  
[attempts] and serology if necessary.

Continuing surveillance
-----------------------
All movements of poultry and/or eggs out of the protection and  
surveillance zones are preceded by PCR and clinical testing of all  
houses on the farm according to the following protocols.

1. Marketing of table eggs: 4 egg sorting plants, located in the  
vicinity of the zones are authorized to receive eggs from the zones.  
The farmers were informed in writing as to which plants they could  
market their eggs. The vehicles that collect the eggs from the farms  
operate only in the protection and the surveillance zones. The eggs  
are transferred to the egg sorting plant marked with the name of the  
farm of origin and date of collection from the farm. These eggs are  
stored in a quarantine area. A veterinarian visits each of the farms  
twice a week and clinically examines the birds. If any disease will be  
suspected, appropriate samples will be obtained and sent to the  
laboratory. The veterinarian informs a government poultry officer that  
the flocks are healthy and he, in turn, issues a permit to release to  
the market eggs that had been collected from the farm at least 3 days  
prior to the inspection.

2. Marketing of broilers and meat turkeys for slaughter or pullets to  
other farms: 3 poultry slaughter houses, all located within or in the  
vicinity of the surveillance zone, are authorized to slaughter and  
process broilers or turkeys from the zones. During the pre-slaughter  
inspection on the farm the clinical veterinarian samples tracheal and  
cloacal swabs by house, from all houses to be marketed. These samples  
are sent to the Kimron Veterinary institute for Real Time PCR testing  
for influenza. Upon receiving a negative result a government poultry  
officer issues a permit to market the birds. These permits are valid  
for 72 hours after sampling. In a similar fashion table egg layer  
pullets and turkey poults are tested before being moved out of the  
zones.

3. Hatching eggs: the farmer samples tracheal and cloacal swabs by  
house, from all the houses on the farm. These samples are sent to the  
Kimron Veterinary institute for Real Time PCR testing for influenza.  
Upon receiving a negative result a government poultry officer issues a  
permit to market the hatching eggs to a hatchery. These permits are  
valid for 72 hours after sampling.

As of this date [2 Feb 2010] , none of the farms tested in the  
protection and surveillance zones have been found to be infected with  
HPAI H5N1. Monitoring activities of sick and dead wild birds in the  
zones has been stepped up.

Epidemiological investigation
-----------------------------
The epidemiologic investigation revealed that no birds were introduced  
into the farm since the chicks were placed and that no birds were  
moved out of the farm. The 2 workers on the farm had no contact with  
other birds [poultry] since the chicks were placed. Movements of the  
vaccinating crew and the treating veterinarian have been investigated  
and 3 contact farms were identified. These 3 farms are located with  
the surveillance zone and therefore are under the surveillance  
procedures. Feed was delivered to the poultry houses from outside the  
fence by underground feed pipes.

The epidemiological report did not reveal any specific reason  
concerning the introduction of the virus into the affected poultry  
house. One possible scenario is the introduction of the virus [into  
the single infected house] by stepping on infected droppings in the  
area between the sanitary facilities (where clothes and shoe changing  
and showering take place) and the entrance to the poultry house. No  
foot baths were used at the entrance to the houses. Within several km  
of the farm there are fish ponds and sewage treatment ponds, which  
attract a large number of wild birds in general and waterfowl  
specifically. During the investigation, wild ducks, cormorants, and  
egrets [a species of heron] were seen flying over the farm.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Subscribers are encouraged to read the full, exemplary document,  
available on-line at the source URL above. It includes additional  
data, maps and a graphic description of the affected farm. Results of  
the tests carried out in an international reference laboratory,  
particularly the relationship between the Israeli isolate and strains  
from other countries, are anticipated with interest. - Mod.AS]

[see also:
Avian influenza (08): Israel (HA) resolved, OIE 20100202.0355
Avian influenza (05): Israel (HA) 20100127.0290
2008
----
Avian influenza (08): Israel (H5N1), Portugal (LP H5N2), OIE 20080108.0100
Avian influenza (04): Israel, Bangladesh, China (Xinjiang) 20080104.0045
Avian influenza (03): Israel, correction 20080104.0040
Avian influenza (03): Israel, correction 20080104.0039
Avian influenza (03): Israel 20080103.0023
2007
----
Avian influenza - worldwide (87): Russia, Israel 20060413.1098
Avian influenza - worldwide (73): Europe, Israel 20060331.0979
Avian influenza, human - worldwide (27): Indonesia, Israel 20060317.0828]
........................................arn/mj/jw
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