H5N1 Re-emergence in Nile Delta
Recombinomics Commentary
December 13, 2007
Dr. Hamed Samaha, Chairman of the General Authority for Veterinary Services, the emergence of cases of bird flu disease in a farm poultry farms supplied "Kohia" Eastern Province [Sharqia Governorate], pointing out that the execution of all poultry farm, in accordance with the requirements of veterinary infection inside the center, to a distance of up to 15 km with a comprehensive clearing work within the farm and its surrounding areas.
it was decided to close the farm according to the Ministerial Decree No. 560, especially as the situation repeated infection on the farm itself twice during 6 months
The above translation describes a new H5N1 outbreak in the Nile Delta, resulting in the closing of a farm due to two infections within a six month period. This outbreak may be related to the H5N1 alert issued this week. The vaccination status of the birds on the farm would be of interst.
Recently, Egypt issued an updated OIE report which included map coordinates for 922 confirmed outbreaks which can be seen here here here here and the most recent here. The report also details an extensive vaccination program, which included 9,098,972 birds in Ash Sharqiyah. In the OIE report, the most recent outbreak was in ducks on a roof top holding in Giza city on November 24, 2007. This outbreak is likely linked to migratory birds and may not have involved vaccinated birds, although the OIE report indicates vaccination included backyard holdings.
In the past, H5N1 infections in Egypt had distinct regional markers found in isolates from Egypt, Israel, Gaza, and Djibouti. However, recent outbreaks in Europe involved a distinct sub-clade that traces back to the Uva Lake outbreak in Mongolia in 2006. This sub-clade was found in Kuwait earlier this year and the current outbreak in Saudi Arabia may also be related, based on geographic proximity to Kuwait.
Sequences from the recent outbreaks in Egypt would be useful.
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