Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Sweden Reports Fresh Outbreak Of HPAI H5N8

Nyköping



















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With the return of warmer spring temperatures and the departure of many migratory birds, Europe's unprecedented HPAI H5 epizootic has been on the decline for several weeks.  Enough, in fact, that many countries have begun to relax their orders to keep poultry indoors or under cover.
Sweden - which was hit far less severely than many other European nations - last reported poultry outbreaks in late January. Earlier this month, they too lowered some of their biosecurity rules after two months without an outbreak. 
Today, in a reminder that the avian flu threat - while diminished - hasn't completely passed, the Swedish Department of Agriculture is reporting an outbreak of HPAI H5N8 in a commercial laying flock in Nyköping.
(Translated)
Bird flu in poultry laying crew in Nyköping

2017-04-25

Bird flu has been detected in one laying flock in Nyköping. Test results from the National Veterinary Institute show that the herd is infected with the virus type H5N8. Agriculture has imposed restrictions in the area to avoid contamination. This type of virus that has been circulating in birds in autumn and winter has never infected humans.

Avian influenza type H5N8 has been circulating in Europe during the fall and winter, in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and several countries on the continent. A laying crew in southern Sweden was hit in December 2016 by the bird flu. Although a number of backyard flocks, a zoo and a number of wild birds have suffered.
- A couple of weeks ago we reduced the level of protection in Sweden from 2 to 1. This means that poultry and other domestic birds must go fenced outdoor with water and feed under cover. The affected farm is free-range laying hens go indoors, and it is unclear where the infection came from, says Karin Åhl on Agriculture
Protection and surveillance zone around the infected farm

Regarding the infected laying hens crew in Nyköping Agriculture has now decided on the refusal of access, and where there is specific restrictions, which means that no animals or animal products may leave or enter the yard.

Agriculture has also decided to establish a protection zone with a radius of three kilometers around the farm and a surveillance zone of 10 km radius. In the protection zone, particularly the following restrictions:
  • Poultry and other captive birds must be kept indoors. 
  • It is forbidden for unauthorized persons to enter the stables in poultry and other birds.
  • It is prohibited to transport poultry, live birds, hatching eggs and poultry products from poultry farms.
Even within the surveillance area, the prohibition of transport. It is possible to apply for exemption of the provincial government for certain shipments in the fields.

To combat the spread of infection, parts or all laying hens crew to be killed, and the plant is blocked and will then be cleaned up. This of course means a strain on the animal's owner. Spread the infection among domestic birds, it can mean huge costs for society and unnecessary suffering of the birds affected, says Karin Åhl.
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