OIE: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)_Follow-up report No. 10

Information received on 02/03/2012 from Dr Thomas Sit, Chief Veterinary Officer / Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong , Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)

Summary

Report type Follow-up report No. 10
Start date 17/12/2011
Date of first confirmation of the event 20/12/2011
Report date 01/03/2012
Date submitted to OIE 02/03/2012
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 13/12/2011
Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country
Related reports

New outbreaks

Outbreak 1 131 Argyle Street, Mongkok, HONG KONG
Date of start of the outbreak 24/02/2012
Outbreak status Resolved (24/02/2012)
Epidemiological unit Not applicable
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Wild species 1 1 0 0
Affected Population A Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) was collected on 24 February 2012 at Mongkok. The Crested Goshawk is an uncommon local resident in Hong Kong.
Outbreak 2 76 Hing Lung Back Street, Cheung Chau, HONG KONG
Date of start of the outbreak 25/02/2012
Outbreak status Resolved (25/02/2012)
Epidemiological unit Not applicable
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Wild species 1 1 0 0
Affected Population An Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) was collected on 25 February 2012 at Cheung Chau. The Oriental Magpie Robin is a common local resident in Hong Kong.
Outbreak 3 80 Hok Loo Lane, Cheung Chau, HONG KONG
Date of start of the outbreak 27/02/2012
Outbreak status Resolved (27/02/2012)
Epidemiological unit Not applicable
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Wild species 1 1 0 0
Affected Population An Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) was collected on 27 February 2012 at Cheung Chau. The Oriental Magpie Robin is a common local resident in Hong Kong.
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 3
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Wild species 3 3 0 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Wild species ** ** 100.00% **

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** Not calculated because of missing information

Epidemiology

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments An intensive surveillance system is in place for all poultry farms, poultry markets and pet bird shops in Hong Kong. The H5N1 infected wild birds and goose carcass from unknown source were detected in ongoing surveillance programme on wild birds. The dates of the outbreaks are the same as the dates the birds were collected (i.e. 17 December 2011, 30 December 2011, 1 January 2012, 12 January 2012, 20 January 2012 , 30 January 2012 , 6 February 2012, 7 February 2012, 8 February 2012, 24 February 2012, 25 February 2012 and 27 February 2012 respectively).
A total of 19,451 poultry, including 15,569 chickens, 810 pigeons, 1,950 pheasants and 1,122 silky fowls were culled in the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market on 21 December 2011. The Wholesale Poultry Market was closed. Importation of live poultry and movement of poultry in local farms is banned for 21 days.
Surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms has been stepped up. No H5 virus was detected in samples taken from the 30 chicken farms in Hong Kong. The Wholesale Poultry Market was reopened on 12 January 2012.

Control measures

Measures applied
  • Stamping out
  • Quarantine
  • Movement control inside the country
  • Screening
  • Zoning
  • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
  • Dipping / Spraying
  • No vaccination
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures

Diagnostic test results

Laboratory name and type Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (National laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Wild species immunohistochemical test 28/02/2012 Positive
Wild species immunohistochemical test 29/02/2012 Positive
Wild species polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 28/02/2012 Positive
Wild species polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 29/02/2012 Positive
Wild species virus isolation Pending
Laboratory name and type Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Wild species gene sequencing Pending

Future Reporting

The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.