General information
Report type: immediate notification
Started: 13 Apr 2022
Confirmed: 14 May 2022
Reported: 19 May 2022
Reason for notification: 1st occurrence in the country
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: Meyang, Ntoum, Noya, Estuaire
Date of start of the outbreak: 13 Apr 2022
Epidemiological unit: farm
Total animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated
Birds / 15 500 / 15 500 / 15 000 / 0 / 0 / 0
Affected population: clinical signs: apathy, prostration, yellowish
diarrhea.

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or
inconclusive
Epidemiological comments: many questions and no answers yet after the
occurrence of avian influenza virus in Gabon. The disease that affects
poultry had been absent in the country so far. Investigations are
under way to identify the origin of the infection. Deaths have been
reported at other locations, in particular in the live animal market,
but also in other poultry. Investigations are ongoing.

Control measures at event level
Domestic control measures applied: stamping out; official disposal of
carcasses, by-products, and waste; official destruction of animal
products; movement control; disinfection
Domestic control measures to be applied: surveillance outside the
restricted zone; surveillance within the restricted zone;
traceability; zoning.
Wild control measures to be applied: surveillance outside the
restricted zone; surveillance within the restricted zone.

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type / Species / Outbreaks / Test / Test date /
Result
[International Centre for Medical Research in Franceville] (CIRMF)
(local laboratory) / birds / 1 / polymerase chain reaction (PCR) / 14
May 2022 / positive