AVIAN INFLUENZA IN ISRAEL
(Date of previous outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel reported to the OIE: 1988).
Information received on 16 and 17 March 2006 from Dr Moshe Chaimovitz, Director of Veterinary and Animal Health Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Beit-Dagan:
Report date: 17 March 2006.
Reason for immediate notification: re-occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country following a report declaring the outbreak(s) ended.
Identification of agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1.
Date of first confirmation of the event: 16 March 2006.
Date of start of the event: 16 March 2006.
Clinical disease: yes.
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, post-mortem and laboratory.
Location of outbreaks:
- En Hashelosha, Beer-Sheva district (farm): susceptible: 12,000 – deaths: 1,800 – destroyed: 10,200.
- Holit, Beer-Sheva district (farm): susceptible: 30,000 – deaths: 9,000 – destroyed: 21,000.
- Sede Moshe, Ashkelon district (village): susceptible: 6,500 – deaths: 500 – destroyed: 6,000.
- Nahshon, Jerusalem district (farm): susceptible: 20,000 – deaths: 500 – destroyed: 19,500.
Description of affected population: fattening turkeys 16 weeks old.
Laboratory where diagnostic tests were performed: Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan.
Diagnostic tests used:
- PCR (H5N1): positive – in progress for Sede Moshe and Nahshon.
- virus isolation: pending.
Source of outbreak or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive.
Control measures undertaken:
- stamping out (all birds in the affected flocks are destroyed and buried);
- quarantine;
- movement restriction enforced in 3 km-radius around the outbreaks;
- screening;
- zoning;
- epidemiological surveys are under way in a zone of 10 km radius around the outbreaks.