General information
Report type: immediate notification
Started: 13 Jan 2022
Confirmed: 24 Jan 2022
Reported: 21 Jan 2022
Reason for notification: 1st occurrence in a zone or a compartment
Manifestation of disease: clinical disease
Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H5N1
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory
This event pertains to a determinate zone in the country.

Outbreak location 1: Salt Company, Swakopmund, Erongo
Date of start of the outbreak: 13 Jan 2022
Epidemiological unit: other
Total animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated
Cape cormorant (_Phalacrocorax capensis_):
Phalacrocoracidae-Trogoniformes / - / - / 200 / - / - / -

Outbreak location 2: Bird Island, Namibian Exclusive Economic Zone
Date of start of the outbreak: 13 Jan 2022
Epidemiological unit: other
Total animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated
Cape cormorant (_Phalacrocorax capensis_):
Phalacrocoracidae-Trogoniformes / - / 35 / 33 / - / - / -

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: contact with wild
species

Epidemiological comments: during active and passive surveillance, wild
birds are the ones affected thus far. The ones that are mainly
affected are the Cape cormorants, with a few other wild birds also
affected including pelicans. Active and passive surveillance is
currently on going to determine the extent of the outbreak. The common
clinical signs found on the affected wild birds are tremors/shivering,
staggering movements and swollen heads. Some sick birds showed signs
of tameness and reluctance to flee from humans. Follow up reports will
be submitted as soon as updates are received.

Control measures at event level
Domestic control measures applied: movement control inside the
country, quarantine, surveillance within containment and/or the
protection zone, ante and post-mortem inspections

Wild control measures applied: official disposal of carcasses,
by-products and waste, official destruction of animal products,
disinfection, surveillance within containment and/or the protection
zone

Diagnostic test results:
Laboratory name and type / Species / Outbreaks / Test / Test date /
Result
Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) (National Laboratory) / birds / 2
/ real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)
/ 24 Jan 2022 / positive