Bird flu scare in Binyamina petting zoo
Agriculture Ministry culls poultry at small chicken coop in local kindergarten after 18 of 25 chickens in place are found dead. Area quarantined and tests being carried out to determine whether virus caused fowls' death Meital Yasur-Beit Or
| Published: | 01.03.08, 09:02 / Israel News (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html) |
Agriculture Ministry officials suspect that the bird flu virus may have infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten, following the death of 18 of the 25 chickens in the place.
The poultry had been culled and a 6-mile quarantined area has been declared around the site to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Laboratory tests are currently being carried out to determine the cause of the fowls' death.
All other chicken coops in the area have been examined as well.
A state comptroller report (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3397886,00.html) published last May indicated that the Agriculture Ministry was inadequately prepared to deal with an outbreak of bird flu.
The comptroller found that in 2006, the ministry was warned of the danger and began to prepare itself for a potential epidemic, but the ministry's veterinary services were insufficient for this purpose.
The ministry was not prepared for an outbreak of the bird flu in multiple locations; instead of training professional sources, who could be on call in an event of multiple incidents, it was content in training workers to deal with an outbreak in only one location.
'This morning, 18 ducks, chickens and pigeons were found dead among a total of 25 birds held in a petting corner in a kindergarten in Binyamina,' an agriculture ministry spokesman told AFP.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/World/STIStory_192530.html
Edit, AFP was wrong here, see post # 20.
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| Fear of bird flu in Binyamina after 18 chickens found dead | |||||
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| By Amiram Cohen, Haaretz Correspondent | |||||
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| Tags: Binyamina (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/tags/index.jhtml?tag=Binyamina), Israel (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/tags/index.jhtml?tag=Israel), Bird Flu (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/tags/index.jhtml?tag=Bird+Flu) http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/images/tags/tag_arrow1.gif | |||||
Eighteen out of 25 chickens were found dead in the northern town of Binyamina on Thursday, in what veterinarians suspect might have been caused by the bird flu. Veterinary services put the rest of the poultry to death, and ran epidemiology tests in the Beit Dagan veterinary institute. Laboratory findings have so far located the existence of one of the two proteins that are identified with the virus. Final results are to be received later on Thursday, and will indicate whether the second protein is also found in the chickens. Meanwhile, a closure had been declared surrounding the area, and the transference of poultry in any direction is forbidden. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/941395.html | |||||
Published: 01.04.08, 09:46 / Israel News
Lab tests showed that the four-year-old girl suspected of contracting bird flu suffered in fact from the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.
The girl attended a kindergarten in Binyamina where a bird flu outbreak was detected; she was admitted to the "Hillel Jaffe" medical center in Hadera. (Meital Yasur Beit –Or)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3490310,00.html
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030801/H5N1_Israel_Zoo.html
also at RSS feed
http://www.recombinomics.com/feed.xml
Agriculture Ministry culls poultry at small chicken coop in local kindergarten after 18 of 25 chickens in place are found dead. Area quarantined and tests being carried out to determine whether virus caused fowls' death Meital Yasur-Beit Or
| Published: | 01.03.08, 09:02 / Israel News (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html) |
Agriculture Ministry officials suspect that the bird flu virus may have infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten, following the death of 18 of the 25 chickens in the place.
The poultry had been culled and a 6-mile quarantined area has been declared around the site to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Laboratory tests are currently being carried out to determine the cause of the fowls' death.
All other chicken coops in the area have been examined as well.
A state comptroller report (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3397886,00.html) published last May indicated that the Agriculture Ministry was inadequately prepared to deal with an outbreak of bird flu.
The comptroller found that in 2006, the ministry was warned of the danger and began to prepare itself for a potential epidemic, but the ministry's veterinary services were insufficient for this purpose.
The ministry was not prepared for an outbreak of the bird flu in multiple locations; instead of training professional sources, who could be on call in an event of multiple incidents, it was content in training workers to deal with an outbreak in only one location.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3489814,00.html
Binyamina Avian flu is of the h5n1 strain lethal to humans, officials say
Avian flu which erupted among hens in a petting zoo near a Binyamina kindergarten is of the h5n1 strain which is lethal to humans, the Agriculture Ministry said Thursday.
People who came in contact with the birds over the past week were instructed to take preventative medicine, and the ministry stressed that the disease appeared to be contained to the one location at the moment.
The birds were tested for the disease after 18 out of 25 hens in the petting zoo died in the last week.
It was understood that none of the children in the kindergarten came in contact with the infected fowl.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517286162&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
| Published: | 01.03.08, 10:28 / Israel News (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html) |
A kindergarten in Binyamina has been shut down until further notice, after dead chicken carcasses were found in its chicken coop. Agriculture Ministry officials arrived at the scene to explain the situation to the parents and children.
At this stage it seems that the children did not come into contact with the birds. (Meital Yasur-Beit Or) :tiphat: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3489856,00.html
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004424130537a121b07f&t=h&om=0&ll=31.363018,33.288574&spn=3.8833,5.570068&z=7
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030802/H5_Israel_Zoo_Confirmed.html
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03 Jan 2008 08:10:37 GMT
Source: Reuters
JERUSALEM, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Israeli investigators have found preliminary signs of bird flu in dead chickens from a kindergarten petting zoo, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Thursday.
"The presence of the H5 strain of bird flu was discovered," Dr. Shimon Pokamunski, a ministry veterinarian, told Israel Radio. "The checks have not yet been completed ... For now, we are culling all of the fowl from the kindergarten's cage." (Editing by Andrew Dobbie)
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03512873.htm
****************************
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org (http://www.isid.org/)
[1]
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2007
Source: Haaretz Daily [edited]
Fear of bird flu in Binyamina after 18 chickens found dead
----------------------------------------------------------
18 out of 25 chickens [for checked, correct figures see the
commentary. - Mod. AS] were found dead in the northern town of
Binyamina on Thursday [3 Jan2008], in what veterinarians suspect might
have been caused by the bird flu.
Veterinary services put the rest of the poultry to death, and ran
epidemiology tests in the Beit Dagan veterinary institute.
Laboratory findings have so far located the existence of one [H5] of
the 2 proteins that are identified with the virus. Final results are
to be received later on Thursday [3 Jan 2008], and will indicate
whether the 2nd protein [N1] is also found in the chickens. [It was --
see comment at end].
Meanwhile, a closure had been declared surrounding the area, and the
transference of poultry [out of it] in any direction is forbidden.
[Byline: Amiram Cohen]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall
*****
[2]
Date: Thu,3 Jan 2008
Source: YNET News [edited]
Deadly strain of bird flu found in Binyamina
--------------------------------------------
Health Ministry makes positive ID of H5N1 bird flu virus in Binyamina
kindergarten. Agriculture Ministry quarantines all chicken coops,
hatcheries within 6-mile radius pending further testing
The Haifa District Physician, Prof. Shmuel Rishpon, confirmed Thursday
[3 Jan 2008] that a deadly strain of the bird flu virus has infected
chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten.
Earlier Thursday morning 18 of the 25 chickens in the kindergarten's
petting zoo were found dead.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall
[An immediate notification on the initial H5 finding has been sent to
the OIE on Thu, 3 Jan 2008, morning by the Veterinary Services in the
Ministry of Agriculture; it was copied to Israel's Ministry of Health.
The identification was carried out late evening, Wednesday 2 Jan 2008,
in the Kimron Veterinary Institute at Beit Dagan. The laboratory
investigation was completed Thursday afternoon, when N1 was identified.
The outbreak took place in a kindergarten facility in the
central-Israeli township of Benyamina (see map at URL at end). In the
backyard of the one-storey building, there is a 4X5 m [area], enclosed
within a mesh, where 12 chickens, 8 ducks and 6 pigeons were kept as
pets. Ten of the chickens and one duck died, found infected by HPAI
H5N1; all the remaining birds, namely 7 ducks, 2 chickens and 6
pigeons have been destroyed. A protective zone of 3 km and
surveillance zone of 10 km have been applied. Epidemiological
investigation is being carried out; the mesh, while keeping the birds
enclosed, does not prevent their possible exposure to droppings of
wild birds and to birds which land on the cage or come close to it.
Israel's previous outbreak of HPAI H5N1 occurred in March 2007 [not
reported on ProMED-mail. - Mod.JW]. It affected mainly farms adjacent
to the Gaza strip; there was also one single outbreak in the Jordan
Valley. Mass destruction was applied, to be analysed later. During the
same period, an FMD outbreak was detected on the other side of the
Jordan river, namely the Kingdom of Jordan. Israel has culled more
than 1.2 million turkeys and chickens after detecting the H5N1 virus.
There have been no human cases.
HPAI H5N1 has been recorded as widely spread in Egypt and Saudi
Arabia; it was just a question of time before the virus was identified
in other regional countries. Israel has established intensive
surveillance to detect H5N1 as early after its introduction (by
migrating birds?) as possible. - Mod. AS].
[See map at:
- Mod.JW]
[see also:
Avian influenza: Egypt, Bangladesh 20080101.0007 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20080101.0007,Y)
Avian influenza, human: Egypt 20080101.0006 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20080101.0006,Y)
2007
----
Avian influenza, human (178): Egypt, Viet Nam, WHO 20071228.4163 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20071228.4163,Y)
Avian influenza, human (177): Pakistan, Viet Nam, Egypt 20071227.4152 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20071227.4152,Y)
Avian influenza (193): Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam (H7N3) 20071224.4131 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20071224.4131,Y)
2006
----
Avian influenza - worldwide (87): Russia, Israel 20060413.1098 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20060413.1098,Y)
Avian influenza - worldwide (73): Europe, Israel 20060331.0979 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20060331.0979,Y)
Avian influenza, human - worldwide (27): Indonesia, Israel 20060317.0828 (http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:12958534264377528878::::F2400_P1001_ BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_ARCHIVE_NUMBER,F2400_P1001_U SE_ARCHIVE:1001,20060317.0828,Y)]
----------------------arn/jw
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| Fear of bird flu in Binyamina after 18 chickens found dead | |||||
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| By Amiram Cohen, Haaretz Correspondent | |||||
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Eighteen out of 25 chickens were found dead in the northern town of Binyamina on Thursday, in what veterinarians suspect might have been caused by the bird flu. Veterinary services put the rest of the poultry to death, and ran epidemiology tests in the Beit Dagan veterinary institute. Laboratory findings have so far located the existence of one of the two proteins that are identified with the virus. Final results are to be received later on Thursday, and will indicate whether the second protein is also found in the chickens. Meanwhile, a closure had been declared surrounding the area, and the transference of poultry in any direction is forbidden. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/941395.html | |||||
By ITAMAR SHARON (editors@jpost.com)
Following confirmation of the existence of the lethal H5N1 strain of avian flu in a petting zoo in Binyamina on Thursday, Magen David Adom announced that it would prepare for the possibility of human infection with the disease.
MDA teams across the country were instructed to refresh procedures and ensure the presence of protective measures and sterilization substances in their ambulances (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517288552&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull#).
Teams in the Binyamina area received briefings on disease symptoms and cautionary steps. In addition, MDA has prepared special enclosed beds, resembling large incubators, to allow safe transfer for people suspected of infection.
.
Poultry in Beit Hanania destroyed as safety measure following bird flu outbreak in nearby community. 'I don’t have the mental strength to watch – it's very difficult,' chicken coop owner says, 'we have no idea what the future holds for us; this is our livelihood' Meital Yasur Beit-Or
| Published: | 01.04.08, 11:23 / Israel News (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html) |
Inspectors from the Agriculture Ministry's Veterinary Service began the process of culling some 4,000 chickens and Turkeys at Moshav Beit Hanania on Friday in an effort to contain the bird flu outbreak detected in a Binyamina kindergarten petting zoo.
| Destroying Poultry | ||||||
|
The process, which is expected to be completed before Shabbat enters, will be carried out at a chicken coop belonging to the Muchersky family, the only one located within a two-mile radius of the kindergarten.
On Thursday some 200 chickens were culled in Binyamina.
The Agriculture Ministry said lab tests of samples taken from chicken coops in the area were negative, but it will go ahead with the culling as a safety measure against the spreading of the bird flu virus. The chicken coop owners will be compensated, the ministry added.
The chickens are killed by electrocution in less than a second, in accordance with local animal rights regulations. Parrots and birds will be beheaded or receive a lethal injection.
Once destroyed, the culled poultry will be buried in a pit dug especially for that purpose.
"The chickens are being electrocuted; there are a lot of people outside, but I don’t have the mental strength to watch – it's very difficult," Nava Muchersky said. "We have no idea what the future holds for us; this is our livelihood."
A four-year-old girl who attended the kindergarten was admitted to the Hillel Jaffe Medical Center in Hadera Thursday with flu-like symptoms. Lab results showed that she had not contracted the bird-flu virus but was rather suffering from the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among young children. :tiphat:
http://www.israelvalley.com/news/2008/01/03/15031/israel-grippe-aviaire-urgent-debut-de-panique-en-israel-faut-il-manger-du-poulet
JERUSALEM. All programs open TV News tonight about avian influenza. START dramatic drop in sales of chickens in markets and souks of ISRAEL date. Tonight the TV ISRAEL trying hard to reassure Israelis. Thousands of chickens will be slaughtered in the next few hours.
MDA prepares for bird flu in humans
| Judy Siegel-Itzkovich , THE JERUSALEM POST | Jan. 3, 2008 |
Eighteen chickens have been found dead from bird flu in a Binyamina kindergarten's animal corner, while two others were unaffected. The Health Ministry, which is investigating but has stressed there is no reason to panic, said on Thursday that the animal corner had been completely closed, and that no one - including the children - had had any direct contact with the fowl except for the keeper.
However, Channel 1 reported Thursday night that a four-year-old girl who attended the kindergarten had been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.
Haifa district health office workers in the area arrived at Gan Batya's animal corner early on Thursday to conduct an epidemiological examination and determine whether to recommend a medication called Tamiflu as a prophylactic measure. There is no vaccine against bird flu.
The kindergarten teacher alerted the district health office when she discovered the chickens had died - but not the ducks or pigeons - and the authorities closed the kindergarten for a day. Magen David Adom announced that it would prepare for the possibility of human infection. MDA teams across the country were instructed to refresh procedures and ensure the presence of protective measures and sterilization substances in their ambulances.
Teams in the Binyamina area received briefings on disease symptoms and cautionary steps. In addition, MDA has prepared special enclosed beds, resembling large incubators, to allow safe transfer for people suspected of infection.
The Health Ministry, meanwhile, reiterated basic guidelines to prevent bird flu infection. Consumers should buy food products only in recognized, licensed stores under veterinary supervision, hands should be washed thoroughly before and after handling food and raw foods, including eggs, should be fully cooked.
Symptoms of bird flu (H5N1 virus) include an unexplained acute lower-respiratory infection. People who have been in contact with other poultry - not those in the Binyamina kindergarten, but within three kilometers of it - should be alert to any symptoms of fever within a week of contact with the fowl. If a fever of over 38 degrees Celsius develops, one should go to a hospital emergency room and tell staff about the possibility of bird flu.
Ministry officials said it had no other reports of fowl deaths in the area. The ministry said it had not changed the level of alertness to bird flu, which is not a human epidemic. Only if the virus results in human-to-human infection will the authorities be worried, and this has not happened.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1198517286735&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
| Published: | 01.04.08, 18:48 / Israel News (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html) |
Inspectors from the Agriculture Ministry's Veterinary Service have finished culling all poultry in Moshav Beit Hanania. The culling was ordered after a the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected in a Binyamina kindergarten's petting zoo.
The Agriculture Ministry has put chicken coops within a six–mile radius under veterinarian inspection pending further testing. (Meital Yasur-Beit Or)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3490436,00.html
A teacher in Binyamina found that 18 out of 25 chickens in the petting zoo were dead.
Shai Niv 3 Jan 08 20:22
An especially virulent strain of avian flu was found today in an animal petting zoo near a kindergarten in Binyamina. The Ministry of Agriculture received final test results from the Ministry's department of veterinary services. The flu strain is H5N1 that can infect humans, and can be fatal. The outbreak was discovered after the teacher at "Gan Batya" in Binyamina discovered that 18 out of 25 chickens in the petting zoo were dead. The teacher called a veterinarian who took samples and sent them for testing at the Ministry of Health. The tests first revealed that the birds had the H5 protein, which is not transmittable to humans, but further results revealed that the birds also had the N1 protein, which can infect humans as well. Inspectors from the ministry sent quarantine notices to large poultry farms in the area, and quarantined the area in a 3 kilometer radius from the kindergarten, to prevent birds from being removed from the area. The Ministry of Health emphasized that it appears that no children came in contact with the birds, which included chickens, ducks, and doves.
.
1/3/2008 6:23:56 AM Israeli investigators have found suspected Bird flu near a Binyamina kindergarten Thursday, after 18 out of 25 hens at the local petting zoo died in the last week, an Agriculture Ministry official said.
Workers from the ministry culled the other hens and an animal curfew was imposed within a 10-kilometer radius of the kindergarten.
"The presence of the H5 strain of bird flu was discovered," Dr. Shimon Pokamunski, a ministry veterinarian, told Israel Radio. "The checks have not yet been completed ... For now, we are culling all of the fowl from the kindergarten's cage," he said.
Though it is believed that none of the children came in contact with the infected fowl, laboratory tests are to be conducted to determine whether the flu, a common animal disease, is of the strain dangerous to humans.
http://www.rttnews.com/FOREX/gblnews.asp?date=01/03/2008&item=11
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030802/H5_Israel_Zoo_Confirmed.html
Commentary
H5 Confirmed at Kindergarten Petting Zoo in Israel
Recombinomics Commentary 09:11
January 3, 2008
Israeli investigators have found preliminary signs of bird flu in dead chickens from a kindergarten petting zoo, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Thursday.
"The presence of the H5 strain of bird flu was discovered," Dr. Shimon Pokamunski, a ministry veterinarian, told Israel Radio.
The above comments confirm H5 at a zoo in Binyamina (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030801/H5N1_Israel_Zoo.html) in Israel. The high percentage of dead chickens indicates the H5 will be H5N1. The presence of H5N1 in a kindergarten petting zoo increases concerns of transmission to children.
H5N1 was widely reported in early 2006. The H5N1 in Israel was virtually identical (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/05100701/H5N1_Israel_Gaza.html) to H5N1 in Egypt, Djibouti, and Gaza (see satellite map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004421d0975565666d35&t=h&om=0&ll=32.528597,34.951866&spn=3.834399,5.570068&z=7)). H5N1 was identified in patients in Egypt and Djibouti. In 2007 H5N1 was widely (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01020803/H5N1_Sharquia_Clusters.html) reported (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01020804/H5N1_Egypt_Poultry.html) in Egypt. In 2006 and 2007 OIE reports detail 922 outbreaks in Egypt (see satellite maps here (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000440f1e1f5523fa270f&t=h&om=0&z=6) here (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000440f1e1f5523fa270f&num=200&start=200&ll=28.690588,31.201172&spn=7.975317,11.140137&z=6&om=0) here (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000440f1e1f5523fa270f&start=400&num=200) here (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000440f1e1f5523fa270f&start=600&num=200) here (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000440f1e1f5523fa270f&start=800&num=200)), but neighbors reported no H5N1.
This season H5N1 was widely reported in Europe and outbreaks have spiked in Egypt in the past few weeks, including fatal cases as well as suspect cluster in Egypt (see satellite map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000442accf347f22ad5d4&num=200&start=200&ll=30.86451,31.113281&spn=1.952048,2.785034&z=8&om=0)). Outbreaks have also been widely reported in Saudi Arabia (see satellite map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.00043f5c9d8d148051c15&t=h&om=0&ll=27.819645,41.638184&spn=16.055276,22.280273&z=5)). This outbreakin Haifa along the northern coast of Israel is consistent with a wild bird origin.
Multiple alerts have been issued in the region, including Egypt (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12120706/H5N1_Egypt_Alert.html), Jordan (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12230703/H5N1_Jordan_Alert.html), and Bahrain (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12290705/H5N1_Bahrain_Alert.html). Azerbaijan has banned poultry imports from Iran (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12250703/H5N1_Iran_Claim.html)because of reported outbreaks there.
The sequences from recent outbreaks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt have not been released, but sequences from multiple wild bird outbreaks in Germany as well as Krasnodar indicate the H5N1 circulating in Europe is the Uva Lake strain, which was also in Kuwait last year.
It is also likely that the Uva Lake strain was responsible for the clusters in Pakistan.
Release of withheld sequences would be useful.
.
| www.xinhuanet.com 2008-01-05 16:18:24 Www.xinhuanet.com 2008-01-05 16:18:24 |
القدس 4 يناير (شينخوا) سلمت الادارة المدنية الاسرائيلية السلطة الفلسطينية 65 الف حقنة لتحصين آلاف الدواجن والحيوانات فى مناطق الضفة الغربية &#
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/03/content_7360991.htm
Agriculture Ministry officials suspect that the bird flu virus may have infected a chicken coop at a small zoo in Binyamina, following the death of 18 of the 25 chickens in the place. The poultry was culled and the area has been quarantined to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Lab tests are currently being carried out to determine the cause of the fowls' death. (Meital Yasur-Beit Or) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...489804,00.html (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3489804,00.html)
Eighteen chickens have been found dead from bird flu in a Binyamina kindergarten's animal corner, while two others were unaffected. The Health Ministry, which is investigating but has stressed there is no reason to panic, said on Thursday that the animal corner had been completely closed, and that no one - including the children - had had any direct contact with the fowl except for the keeper. However, Channel 1 reported Thursday night that a four-year-old girl who attended the kindergarten had been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms. Haifa district health office workers in the area arrived at Gan Batya's animal corner early on Thursday to conduct an epidemiological examination and determine whether to recommend a medication called Tamiflu as a prophylactic measure. There is no vaccine against bird flu. The kindergarten teacher alerted the district health office when she discovered the chickens had died - but not the ducks or pigeons - and the authorities closed the kindergarten for a day. Magen David Adom announced that it would prepare for the possibility of human infection. MDA teams across the country were instructed to refresh procedures and ensure the presence of protective measures and sterilization substances in their ambulances. Teams in the Binyamina area received briefings on disease symptoms and cautionary steps. In addition, MDA has prepared special enclosed beds, resembling large incubators, to allow safe transfer for people suspected of infection. The Health Ministry, meanwhile, reiterated basic guidelines to prevent bird flu infection. Consumers should buy food products only in recognized, licensed stores under veterinary supervision, hands should be washed thoroughly before and after handling food and raw foods, including eggs, should be fully cooked. Symptoms of bird flu (H5N1 virus) include an unexplained acute lower-respiratory infection. People who have been in contact with other poultry - not those in the Binyamina kindergarten, but within three kilometers of it - should be alert to any symptoms of fever within a week of contact with the fowl. If a fever of over 38 degrees Celsius develops, one should go to a hospital emergency room and tell staff about the possibility of bird flu. Ministry officials said it had no other reports of fowl deaths in the area. The ministry said it had not changed the level of alertness to bird flu, which is not a human epidemic. Only if the virus results in human-to-human infection will the authorities be worried, and this has not happened. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1198517286735&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull By Haim Bior The avian flu that killed 18 chickens in the yard of a Binyamina kindergarten was of the lethal H5N1 strain potentially harmful to humans, the Agriculture Ministry's veterinary service announced yesterday. Eight people, including the kindergarten staff and veterinarians who inspected the site, received preventive therapy. Tests indicated that the children and their parents had not come into contact with the birds. In response, ministry officials culled suspect fowl at a kindergarten complex in the town, to minimize the risk to humans. In addition, the authorities banned moving animals within a 10-kilometer radius of Binyamina. Fowl within a 3-kilometer radius were culled and buried. The veterinary service has begun checking all poultry coops, petting zoos and yard fowl in Binyamina and the farming communities in the area under quarantine. The Haifa district physician, Prof. Shmuel Rishpon, praised the owner of the kindergarten, Batya Ben Asher, for calling a veterinarian instead of dumping the carcasses when 18 of the 25 chickens in a kindergarten fowl corner died. The veterinarian, Dr. Gilad Goldstein, suspected an outbreak of Newcastle fowl disease or avian flu, so he sent samples of the dead chickens to the Agriculture Ministry for examination. Meanwhile, the Poultry Breeders Association demanded an immediate increase of 25 percent in the monetary compensation for farmers, should the state order mass culling. The association's secretary, Yaakov Cohen, said the authorities were forced yesterday to destroy a flock of egg-laying hens at Moshav Beit Hanania, near Binyamina, but that the region does not have large numbers of fowl, reducing the health hazard to humans. He added that the outbreak's economic damage to farmers has not been great, and that the risk of harm to Israel's poultry export business is low. Israel reported the outbreak of avian flu to the European Union and World Health Organization, which praised it for acting promptly, Cohen said. The previous outbreak of H5N1 avian flu, in March 2006, decimated nine commercial poultry farms in Israel, but harmed no people. The Health Ministry yesterday called on people in the Binyamina area to wash their hands before handling food, and to boil poultry at 70 degrees Celsius before eating it. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/941548.html |
| Israel probes new bird flu outbreak | |
| Tests discovered the presence of the H5 virus category, which only kills birds, unlike the highly pathogenic H5N1 sub-type of the virus that is dangerous to humans. |
Media myths continue.
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 3, 2008
JERUSALEM: Israeli authorities ordered the culling of fowl in part of Israel's north on Thursday after chickens kept at a kindergarten were diagnosed with a deadly strain of avian flu, Israeli media reported.
Most of the chickens in the coop in a Binyamina kindergarten died, and veterinarians determined they were infected with the H5N1 strain of avian flu. Israel TV showed footage of yellow-suited, masked workers disinfecting the kindergarten in the northern Israeli town.
Fowl were to be culled in a three-kilometer (two-mile) radius from Binyamina, near Israel's Mediterranean coast south of the port city of Haifa, the reports said.
Several years ago there was a worldwide near-panic over the possibility that the disease could cause an epidemic among humans, but that has not happened.
Israeli media reported that there was little danger to humans from the latest outbreak, but the disease can spread quickly among birds.
In recent years almost all the cases of humans contracting avian flu concerned people who were in direct contact with infected birds.
http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=9012333
http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=6649
snip:
Affected population
18 chickens among 20 were affected in addition to the presence of 8 ducks and 4 pigeons. These backyard birds were located in a small enclosure adjacent to a kindergarten.
2175
Health Ministry makes positive ID of H5N1 bird flu virus in Binyamina kindergarten. Agriculture Ministry quarantines all chicken coops, hatcheries within six-mile radius pending further testing Raanan Ben-Zur
| Published: | 01.03.08, 14:22 / Israel News (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html) |
The Haifa District Physician, Prof. Shmuel Rishpon, confirmed Thursday that a deadly strain of the bird flu virus has infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten.
Earlier Thursday morning 18 of the 25 chickens in the kindergarten's petting zoo, were found dead.
"The virus was identified as H5N1 bird flue," said Rishpon, adding that humans that contract this strain have only a 50% survival rate.
Rishpon commended the kindergarten teacher for her decision not to discard the dead chickens but rather to call a veterinarian, who sent samples of the poultry's blood to the Health Ministry for further testing.
"The kindergarten staff has been given preventive medicines and as far as we know, none of the children or their parents came in contact with the birds.
"The virus can only be transmitted by direct contact," he added. "We have alerted the hospitals in the area to look out for any children or adults coming in with bird flu-like symptoms."
Veterinarian Gilad Goldstein, who was called to the scene, told Ynet he was called in due to an unusual number of deaths in the petting zoo.
"It was obvious that some sort of epidemic hit the petting zoo, which made me suspect either NVD (Newcastle Disease Virus – a viral infection in birds) or the bird flu… knowing there was a bird flu alert in the area, I sent blood samples to the Health Ministry."
Aryeh Zitouni, head of the Binyamina-Givat Ada Regional Council, told Ynet that "at this point we know the disease has not spread further… the hatcheries in the surrounding areas have been fumigated and we are still waiting to hear whether or not we'll have to put down all the poultry within a two-mile radius."
The Agriculture Ministry announced it was putting all chicken coops and hatcheries within a six-mile radius under quarantine: "We are testing all poultry in the quarantined area but so far have no further reports on any dead birds," said head of the Agriculture Ministry's poultry disease division.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3489988,00.html
MDA prepares to treat avian flu victims if disease spreads to humans
By ITAMAR SHARON (editors@jpost.com)
Following confirmation of the existence of the lethal H5N1 strain of avian flu in a petting zoo in Binyamina on Thursday, Magen David Adom announced that it would prepare for the possibility of human infection with the disease.
MDA teams across the country were instructed to refresh procedures and ensure the presence of protective measures and sterilization substances in their ambulances (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517288552&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull#). Teams in the Binyamina area received briefings on disease symptoms and cautionary steps. In addition, MDA has prepared special enclosed beds, resembling large incubators, to allow safe transfer for people suspected of infection.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517288552&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030804/H5N1_Israel_Zoo_Confirmed.html
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030804/H5N1_Israel_Zoo_Confirmed.htmlCommentary
H5N1 Confirmed at Kindergarten Petting Zoo in Haifa Israel
Recombinomics Commentary 13:11
January 3, 2008
The Haifa District Physician, Prof. Shmuel Rishpon, confirmed Thursday that a deadly strain of the bird flu virus has infected chickens at a petting zoo in a Binyamina kindergarten.
Earlier Thursday morning 18 of the 25 chickens in the kindergarten's petting zoo, were found dead.
"The virus was identified as H5N1 bird flue,"
"The kindergarten staff has been given preventive medicines and as far as we know, none of the children or their parents came in contact with the birds.
The above comments confirm H5N1 in Haifa, Israel. The finding was not unexpected because of the mortality (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030801/H5N1_Israel_Zoo.html) in the chickens and initial positive (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030802/H5_Israel_Zoo_Confirmed.html) data for influenza. The lack of contact between children and chickens at a kindergarten petting zoo remains unclear. The staff has been placed on prophylactic oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
The confirmation of H5N1 in Israel suggests bird flu is widespread in the Middle East. There are 38 reported outbreaks in Saudi Arabia (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12250705/H5N1_Saudi_38.html), and the number of outbreaks in Egypt (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01020804/H5N1_Egypt_Poultry.html) is likely to be higher (see satellite map). Birds are migrating through the region at this time, and reported outbreaks upstream have been high this fall in Europe and possibly Iran (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12250703/H5N1_Iran_Claim.html)..
Thus far confirmed human cases have been limited to Egypt (see satellite map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.000442accf347f22ad5d4&num=200&start=200&ll=30.86451,31.113281&spn=1.952048,2.785034&z=8&om=0)) and Pakistan, although there was a suspect case at the Kuwait airport (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12190701/H5N1_Kuwait_India.html). The similarity between H5N1 in Egypt and Israel in 2006 raises the possibility of more human cases in the area. In addition to the recent confirmed cases (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12310707/H5N1_Egypt_CFR.html) in Egypt, a growing number of suspect cases (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030803/H5N1_Egypt_Suspect_16.html) are being reported.
The outbreak in Pakistan (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12150702/H5N1_Pakistan_Confirmed_H2H2H.html) is likely to be the Uva Lake strain, which has been widespread in Europe and in Kuwait (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/02260701/H5N1_Kuwait.html) early last year. It is likely that the Uva Lake (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06270601/H5N1_Tuva.html) strain has now migrated into the Middle East and may be recombining with resident sequences.
Other than Germany and Russia, all other countries have withheld recent H5N1 sequences.
The release of those sequences would be useful.
.
'This morning, 18 ducks, chickens and pigeons were found dead among a total of 25 birds held in a petting corner in a kindergarten in Binyamina,' an agriculture ministry spokesman told AFP.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/World/STIStory_192530.html
| Israel probes new bird flu outbreak | |
| JERUSALEM - ISRAEL was investigating a fresh outbreak of avian flu after 18 contaminated birds were found dead on Thursday at a kindergarten in a coastal town in the north of the country. 'This morning, 18 ducks, chickens and pigeons were found dead among a total of 25 birds held in a petting corner in a kindergarten in Binyamina,' an agriculture ministry spokesman told AFP. Tests discovered the presence of the H5 virus category, which only kills birds, unlike the highly pathogenic H5N1 sub-type of the virus that is dangerous to humans. Experts were examining the infected birds to see if they had been infected with the H5N1 strain. Authorities have banned the transportation of animals in a three-kilometre radius around Binyamina, a coastal town north of Tel Aviv, in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus, the agriculture ministry said in a statement. -- AFP |
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01030801/H5N1_Israel_Zoo.htmlCommentary
Likely H5N1 at Petting Zoo in Israel
Recombinomics Commentary 19:11
January 3, 2008
Eighteen out of 25 chickens were found dead in the northern town of Binyamina on Thursday, in what veterinarians suspect might have been caused by the bird flu.
Laboratory findings have so far located the existence of one of the two proteins that are identified with the virus. Final results are to be received later on Thursday, and will indicate whether the second protein is also found in the chickens.
The above comments strongly suggest that H5N1 has been detected in Israel. The high fatality rate in chickens in a petting zoo, coupled with initial positive data for influenza, suggests H5N1 will be confirmed.
H5N1 in Israel would not be a surprise. The H5N1 isolated in 2006 in Israel and Gaza were virtually identical (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/05100701/H5N1_Israel_Gaza.html) to the H5N1 in Egypt and Djibouti (see satellite map). Although only Egypt reported H5N1 last season, it was likely present in all of the above countries last year. In late 2005, Israel also reported a suspect case (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11240501/H5N1_Israel.html).
This season the H5N1 detection in birds (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01020804/H5N1_Egypt_Poultry.html) and patients (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01020803/H5N1_Sharquia_Clusters.html) in Egypt has increased dramatically in recent days (see satellite map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004424130537a121b07f&t=h&om=0&ll=29.945415,31.256104&spn=4.149969,7.976074&z=7)) and H5N1 has also been common in Saudi Arabia (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12250705/H5N1_Saudi_38.html). There have also be reports (and denials) of H5N1 in Iran (http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12250703/H5N1_Iran_Claim.html).
It is likely that H5N1 has spread throughout the Middle East.
Updates on the follow-up bird flu testing in Israel would be useful.
.
Report reference: BINYAMINA-GIV'AT ADA, Ref OIE: 6649, Report Date: 03/01/2008 , Country: Israel
Report Summary
Disease Highly pathogenic avian influenza Animal type Terrestrial
Causal Agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype(s) H5
Clinical Signs Yes Reason Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of confirmation of Event 03/01/2008 Date of Start of Event 01/01/2008
Date of report 03/01/2008 Date Submitted To OIE 03/01/2008
Diagnosis Suspicion, Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Necropsy Date Of Last Occurrence 03/2006
Number Of Reported Outbreaks Submitted= 1, Draft= 0 Name of Sender of the report Dr Michel Bellaiche
Address post office box 12 BEIT DAGAN 50250 Position Epidemiologist
Telephone +972(3)9681761 Fax +972(3)9681761
Email michelb@moag.gov.il Entered by Mrs Françoise Ricordel
Outbreak (this report - submitted) ( BINYAMINA-GIV'AT ADA )
HAIFA Unit Type Location Latitude Longitude Start End
HAIFA Farm BINYAMINA-GIV'AT ADA 32,5195133375 34,9647465364 01/01/2008
Species Measuring units Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Birds Animals 32 18 18 14 0
Affected Population
18 chickens among 20 were affected in addition to the presence of 8 ducks and 4 pigeons. These backyard birds were located in a small enclosure adjacent to a kindergarten.
Outbreak summary: Total outbreaks = 1 (Submitted)
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Birds 32 18 18 14 0
Epidemiology
Epidemiological comments A 3-km radius protection zone and a 10-km radius surveillance zone were set up.
H5 was detected by PCR. The Neuraminidase (N) type is pending.
Increase of monitoring activities of sick and dead wild birds in the zone.
Source of Infection • Unknown or inconclusive
Control Measures
• Stamping out
Applied • Quarantine
Printed on: Thu Jan 3 14:19:57 Paris, Madrid 2008 Page 1/3
To be applied • No Planned Control Measures
Vaccination Prohibited Yes
• Movement control inside the country
• Screening
• Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
Animals treated No
Country / Zone
Country or zone a zone or compartment
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory Type Name of Laboratory Species Test Type Date Results Provided Result
National laboratory Kimron Veterinary Institute Birds neuraminidase inhibition assay Pending
National laboratory Kimron Veterinary Institute Birds polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 03/01/2008 Positive
Future Reporting
What further reports will be submitted in relation to this event?
There are 1outbreaks that are still recorded as unresolved. It is not possible to declare this event resolved until these individual outbreaks are resolved.
Immediate notification report. Report reference: BINYAMINA-GIV'AT ADA, Ref OIE: 6649, Report Date: 03/01/2008 , Country: Israel
Printed on: Thu Jan 3 14:19:57 Paris, Madrid 2008 Page 2/3
Outbreak map
Immediate notification
http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_imm_0000006649_20080103_141956.pdf
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