Information received on 8 February 2006 from Dr Mate Brstilo, Director of the Veterinary Administration, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Zagreb:

End of previous report period: 17 January 2006 (see Disease Information, 19 [3], 48, dated 19 January 2006).

End of this report period: 8 February 2006.

Identification of agent: avian influenza virus serotype H5.

Date of first confirmation of the event: 21 October 2005.

Date of start of the event: 19 October 2005.

During regular monitoring activities conducted at ‘Ribnjak 1905’ fish pond, samples were taken from 26 wild ducks (Anas platyrhyncos) and sent to the Poultry Centre of the Croatian Veterinary Institute in Zagreb for analysis. Laboratory testing (after three passages in chicken embryos) revealed that two samples were positive for avian influenza virus subtype H5, but the genetic tests revealed negative results for N1. The amino-acid chain (PQRTRGL) does not point to a virus of high pathogenicity. The nucleotide sequence (500 base pairs that encode for haemagglutinin) resembles that of influenza virus type A (Anas platyrhyncos/Chany Lake/9/03 [H5N3]) isolated in Western Siberia.

Diagnosis:

Final report: no.