Avian Influenza in Afghanistan
(Date of previous outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Afghanistan reported to the OIE: 2002).
Information received on 20 March 2006 from Dr Azizullah Osmani, General President of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food, Kabul:
Reason for immediate notification: re-occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country.
Identification of the agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1
Date of the start of the event: 2 March 2006
Date of first confirmation of the event: 15 March 2006
Thirteen outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been reported in poultry (chicken and turkey) in five provinces of Afghanistan (4 in Jalalabad, 6 in Kabul, 1 in Laghman, 1 in Vardak and 1 in Kunar).
The diagnosis has been made by the Central Diagnostic Laboratory in Kabul and by the OIE/FAO Reference Laboratory for avian influenza and Newscastle disease in Padua (Italy).
The control measures applied are as follows:
- quarantine;
- movement control inside the country.
The disinfection of the infected area has just begun.