Below is a round-up of HPAI H5N1 outbreaks over the last two months (Source: FAOAIDEnews Situation Update 63, 31 Jan 10). In December 2009, Cambodia and Indonesia reported outbreaks in poultry, and Hong Kong reported one wild bird case. In January 2010, Egypt, Israel, Bangladesh, India and Viet Nam reported outbreaks in poultry.

JANUARY

Egypt - Samples taken from poultry in 13 of the 29 Governorates were found positive for H5 HPAI.

Israel - An outbreak of H5N1 HPAI in Haifa Province was reported to OIE on 26 January 2010. The outbreak started on 24 January in a poultry farm in Hadera; 100 breeder pullets (16-week-old) out of 700 cases died. Clinical signs were observed in only one of the three poultry houses of the farm under high biosecurity that holds total 43,000 pullets.

Bangladesh - Outbreaks of H5 HPAI in Rajshahi Division were reported on the Government website in January 2010. The first outbreak was on 24 January in a commercial layer farm in Khetlal Upazilla, Joypurhat District, 250 birds died (case fatality rate 100 %) and the rest were destroyed; the second outbreak was on 26 January in commercial poultry farm in Sirajganj Sadar, Sirajganj District.

India - Outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI in 12 villages in Burwan and Khargram Blocks in Murshidabad District, West Bengal State were reported on the government website. The outbreaks occurred in backyard poultry and as of 28 January 2010, 1,849 birds died (case fatality rate 100%) and 129,692 birds were destroyed.

Viet Nam - Outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI in Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Tinh and Thai Nguyen Provinces were reported on the Government website. The last outbreak occurred in backyard ducks in Tan Phu, Thoi Binh District, Ca Mau Province on 26 January, 40 out of 250 ducks died.

DECEMBER

Cambodia - An outbreak of H5N1 HPAI in Kampong cham Province was reported to OIE on 28 December 2009. The outbreak started on 16 December in La ork Village, Kraek Commune, Ponhea kraek District among backyard poultry; 143 birds died (case fatality rate 100%) and 875 birds were destroyed.

Indonesia - In December 2009, PDSR officers visited 1,928 villages of which 135 (7.0 %) were classified as infected. Of these, 105 villages (77.7%) had not reported any HPAI cases in the previous six months. Two Provinces in Kalimantan reported infected villages for the first time.

Hong Kong - The veterinary service website reported that an Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) found dead in the Pat Sin Leng Country Park near Hok Tau management centre on 29 December 2009, tested positive for H5N1 HPAI.