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H5N1 Wild Bird Flu Outbreak In The Philippines?
Recombinomics Commentary
October 7, 2005
Philippine authorities were investigating possible bird flu in the sudden deaths of 50 chickens in a village north of Manila, an official said Friday.
Blood samples have already been taken from at least two of the birds in a village outside Calumpit, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Manila, the same town where a low-risk version of bird flu was discovered in a duck farm in July.
The above commentary suggest that H5N1 wild bird flu may have entered the Philippines. There have been reports of H5N2 antibodies in the Philippines, but those birds did not die. There have also been outbreaks of H5N2 antibodies in Japan. However, there were very few birds that died.
In contrasts, the Philippines is reporting dead chickens. Although the deaths could be due to other viruses such as New Castle Disease, the timing of the announcement and proximity to Indonesia and Vietnam make H5N1 a likely candidate.
Wild birds are beginning to migrate from Mongolia, Siberia, and Kazahkstan, as well as Qinghai Lake in China. These birds carry HPAI H5N1 and probably are responsible fro the dead domestic ducks being reported in Romania. Indonesia has suggested that the H5N1 in their Ragunan zoo may be due to wild birds and Thailand has reported deaths in free range poultry, also suggesting wild birds may be responsible.
The distance from the recent outbreak in Kurgen to Romania is similar to the distance from Qinghai Lake to Manila (see map), so the location of the chicken deaths is within the range of migratory birds that are flying to warmer climates.
Results from the Philippine isolates are expected soon, and H5N1 would not be a surprise and would extend H5N1's geographical range.
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