Tuesday, November 21, 2017

South Korea: MAFRA Testing Environmental H7N7 For Pathogenicity


















#12,913

In late September South Korea announced they would increase their surveillance and containment procedures for the expected return of avian flu this fall and winter.  Since then we've seen a growing number of reports of both LPAI H5 and H7 viruses in wild birds, or their feces, and more recently, HPAI H5N6 in wild birds and poultry. 

There are two broad categories of avian influenza; LPAI (Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza) and HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza).
  • LPAI viruses are quite common in wild birds, cause little illness, and only rarely death. They are not considered to be a serious health to public health. The concern is (particularly with H5 & H7 strains) that LPAI viruses have the potential to mutate into HPAI strains.
  • HPAI viruses are more dangerous, can produce high morbidity and mortality in wild birds and poultry, and can sometimes infect humans with serious result. The type of bird flu scientists have been watching closely for the past decade has been HPAI H5 (and to a lesser extent HPAI H7s & H9s).
While HPAI H5N6 is currently considered South Korea's greatest threat, the possibility of seeing new reassortant (H5 or H7) viruses is always present, and so all findings must be fully examined.

Nearly two months ago, we saw South Korean H7N7 Indentified As LPAI from samples retrieved from Yeongcheon.Today, we learn that MAFRA is testing new samples taken from Pohang, roughly 25 miles further east. 

While likely to be LPAI, given the rapid reassortment potential for avian influenza viruses, no one in South Korea can afford to take the results for granted. 
Gyeongsangbuk-do Pohang wild bird H7N7 AI virus type detected in the feces (11.21, deployment) 
Added     2017-11-21 20:49:00

Gyeongsangbuk-do Pohang (Hyeongsan River) wild bird H7N7 type AI virus detected in the feces - AI biosecurity measures in accordance with the emergency action plan (SOP) - Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Food (Minister: gimyoungrok) is a wild bird feces collected from 11.14 days Gyeongbuk Pohang (Hyeongsan River) Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock quarantine office intermediate tests AI H7N7 type virus is detected - 11.21 days against the AI ​​urgent action in accordance with the instructions (SOP) announced that take preventative measures.
Set to 'wild birds current surveillance area "** for detecting the center point of a radius 10km area was to be subjected to movement control and disinfection with respect to poultry and birds bred in the area for 21 days, as well as, poultry farms and migratory doraeji, Small Stream AI enhanced biosecurity and its municipalities for such vehicles is to mobilize the Defense wide Area bangjegi announced that total take biosecurity measures, including disinfection carried out every day. * Check whether the highly pathogenic 11.22 days ** will Gyeongsangbuk-gu, Pohang Yeonil AI detection point with respect to the forecasting center within 10km poultry breeding farms (about 285 farmers, 150 Tianshui) (clinical examination or inspection) carried out