Information received on [and dated] 24 Feb 2021 from Dr Ahmad Mukhtar
Muhseni, Animal Health Director, General Directorate of Livestock and
Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock,
Dara-ul-Aman, Sanatorium Street, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Summary
Report type: immediate notification
Date of start of the event: 7 Feb 2021
Date of confirmation of the event: 18 Feb 2021
Reason for notification: recurrence a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence: 10 Jun 2019
Manifestation of disease: clinical disease
Causal agent: Highly pathogenic influenza A virus
Serotype: H5N8
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory (advanced), necropsy
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.

New outbreaks (1)
Outbreak 1: Herat
Date of start of the outbreak: 7 Feb 2021
Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: farm
Total animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered
Birds / 22 000 / 794 / 794 / 22 000 / 0
Affected population: farmed poultry, broilers

Outbreak statistics [rates apparent, expressed as percentages]
Species / Morbidity rate / Mortality rate / Case fatality rate /
Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Birds / 3.6 / 3.6 / 100 / 100
*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: 3 km [2 mi] away from the infected farm the
active surveillance started.

Control measures
Measures applied: movement control inside the country; surveillance
within containment and/or protection zone; quarantine; screening;
selective killing and disposal; ante and post-mortem inspections;
vaccination prohibited; no treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied: surveillance outside containment and/or
protection zone; slaughter; process to inactivate pathogenic agent in
products or by-products; official destruction of animal products;
official disposal of carcasses, by-products, and waste; disinfection;
control of wildlife reservoirs

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type:
Central Veterinary Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (national
laboratory)
Species / Test / Test date / Result
Birds / Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) / 18
Feb 2021 / Positive

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