Guest guest Posted February 10, 2002 Report Share Posted February 10, 2002 AVIAN INFLUENZA - CHINA (HONG KONG) (03) ****************************************** A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org> ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org> [see also: Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong) (02) 20020206.3492] Sat 09 Feb 2002 Marianne Hopp <mhopp Source: WHO Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response (CSR), filed 08 Feb 2002 [edited] <http://www.who.int/disease-outbreak-news/n2002/february/8february2002.html> Isolation of influenza A(H5) viruses in poultry in Hong Kong (SAR) - There has been a recent increase in the number of deaths of poultry in a retail poultry market, in one consignment in a wholesale chicken market and in 2 local chicken farms in Hong Kong SAR [special Administrative Region of China]. Preliminary tests on some samples were positive for influenza A(H5) viruses. As a result, the Government of Hong Kong SAR has slaughtered all chickens in the affected retail market, the affected consignment and the 2 affected local farms. An additional 23 farms were quarantined. No human cases of influenza-like illness related to this outbreak have been detected. WHO's human influenza surveillance system in Hong Kong SAR is monitoring the situation closely. -- ProMED-mail promed [Professor Shortridge in Hong Kong SAR has been reported previously (see references above) as stating that the virus responsible for this outbreak is related to the Guangdong goose family of avian influenza A viruses (of H5N1 serotype), but that it is distinct from the Guangdong virus of 1996 - the parent of the 1997 strain. Reassortment of an H5N1 avian influenza virus A produced the 1997 strain which was able to jump the species barrier and as a consequence 18 people were infected, 6 of them fatally. Professor Shortridge has stated that the current outbreak in poultry is not a human health concern, but there is a need for very close surveillance. Fortunately, the 1997 H5N1 virus was not capable of person-to-person transmission and no epidemic occurred in the human population. - Mod.CP As it seems from this updated CSR release, no further spread of the Avian Influenza A(H5) virus has been reported since ProMED's posting 20020206.3492 of 06 Feb 2002. The last official press release on the current AI outbreak in SAR was published there by the Department for the Environment and Food on 04 Feb 2002. " Highly pathogenic avian influenza " is one of the 15 diseases included in List A according to the International Animal Health Code of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). These are " Transmissible diseases that have the potential for very serious and rapid spread, irrespective of national borders, that are of serious socio-economic or public health consequence and that are of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal products " . - Mod.AS] ..................cp/pg/lm *##########################################################* ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID and its associated service providers shall not be held responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted or archived material. ************************************************************ Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>. Send all items for posting to: promed (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send commands to /, get archives, help, etc. to: majordomo. For assistance from a human being send mail to: owner-promed. ############################################################ ############################################################ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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