OIE: Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry) ,South Africa

Information received on 30/08/2013 from Dr Bothle Michael Modisane, Chief Director , Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Animal Production and Health, PRETORIA, South Africa

Summary

Report type	Immediate notification
Date of start of the event	30/07/2013
Date of pre-confirmation of the event	01/08/2013
Report date	30/08/2013
Date submitted to OIE	30/08/2013
Reason for notification	Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence	05/2012
Manifestation of disease	Sub-clinical infection
Causal agent	Low pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype	H7
Nature of diagnosis	Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to	a defined zone within the country

New outbreaks

Summary of outbreaks

Total outbreaks: 1

Outbreak Location

GAUTENG ( LPNAI_Gau2013_001, City of Tshwane )

Total animals affected

Species	Susceptible	Cases	Deaths	Destroyed	Slaughtered
Birds	2000	4	0	0	0

Outbreak statistics

Species	Apparent morbidity rate	Apparent mortality rate	Apparent case fatality rate	Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Birds	0.20%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter;

Epidemiology

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection

Unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments

This outbreak is more than 1,000 km away from any other reported H7N1 or H7N7 outbreaks and occurred in species other than ostriches. There is no evidence to link this outbreak to previous outbreaks. This outbreak occurred in indigenous wild birds and an exotic parrot kept in captivity. The birds were tested for planned export. They tested positive on RT-PCR for H7. The samples did not render enough material to allow sequencing or virus isolation and the N-type could not be determined. It is highly unlikely that further information on the N-type will be obtained. For this reason, the veterinary services decided to report it as a new event.

Note by the OIE Animal Health Information Department: H5 and H7 avian influenza in its low pathogenic form in poultry is a notifiable disease as per Chapter 10.4. on avian influenza of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2012).

Control measures

Measures applied	Quarantine Screening No vaccination No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied	No other measures

Diagnostic test results

Laboratory name and type

Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (ARC – OVI) ( National laboratory )

Tests and results

Species	Test	Test date	Result
Birds	real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)	01/08/2013	Positive

Future Reporting

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