Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Russia's Bird Flu Reports Continue














#12,465


Over the past few weeks we've seen a series of Russian bird flu reports - both official, and in the media -  involving both `infected' meat entering the food chain, and fresh outbreaks in poultry.

 Today, a few more reports.  First, from Mari El, which borders Tartarstan to the north and west, we get the following (translated) report from from Russia's  Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

About Avian Influenza registration in the Republic of Mari El
May 17, 2017

© Central body

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance informs about avian influenza registration in the Republic of Mari El.

As a result of laboratory tests FGBU "ARRIAH" 13/05/2017 in the pathological material taken from chickens bodies discovered at illegal dumps near the route Yoshkar-Ola - Zelenodolsk on the turn to the village sewage treatment plant. Suslonger Zvenigovsky district of the Republic of Mari El, highlighted the genome of influenza A subtype H5 bird.

Currently, the disadvantaged section are specialists gosvetsluzhby Republic of Mari El under the control of the territorial Rosselkhoznadzor. Priority actions are carried out.

It appears that rather than reporting outbreaks, some poultry producers are simply electing to dispose of the evidence. 

Meanwhile reports of `infected' poultry products entering the wholesale and retail food chain continue to spread eastward across Russia, with this coming from Rosselkhoznadzor in Vladivostok, in the far eastern province of Primorsky Krai.

In Vladivostok, the Soviet district police together with the Rosselkhoznadzor prevented the implementation of poultry meat from the genome of avian influenza

According to Rosselkhoznadzor (Moscow), was delivered to terupravleniya Rosselkhoznadzor for the Primorsky Krai and Sakhalin Oblast, in April this year at the poultry farms of the Rostov region LLC "Evrodon-South" observed mass death of turkey stock. In turkeys culled from pathological material was discovered gene of influenza A virus of birds, and identified the H5 subtype.

All terupravleniya Rosselkhoznadzor and veterinary services of the Russian Federation to strengthen measures prescribed veterinary controls for products of this company, as well as for objects that have economic ties with it.

In early May of this year, during the veterinary inspection for entering the territory of Primorsky Krai products Rosselkhoznadzor inspectors had inspected the cargo turkey leg and wing, to proceed with the company LLC "Evrodon". Weight batch was 2.98 tons. Products sent to the address of the freezer warehouse, located in the Soviet district of the city of Vladivostok.

Although accompany the consignment a veterinary certificate, it was stated that "the country from infectious and other animal diseases," and, accordingly, products can not arouse suspicion, inspectors Rosselkhoznadzor decided to play safe.

Thus, when comparing the addresses of "Evrodon" and LLC "Evrodon-South," it was found that these two companies have the same legal address. In this connection, it was decided to select a sample of the product and send it to the lab.

Conducted FGBU "Maritime Interregional Veterinary Laboratory" Rosselkhoznadzor tests showed that the suspicious turkey leg and wing contains the genetic material of the virus avian influenza A, subtype H5.

Immediately upon receipt of the laboratory results terupravleniya Rosselkhoznadzor to address the economic security department of Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and combating corruption in the city of Vladivostok in the Soviet area of  ​​information on dangerous goods was sent that could already be realized. On the same day, during operational crafted joint action by the police and inspectors Rosselkhoznadzor whole party dangerous poultry meat has been removed from the sanitary compartment in which it is stored separately, and placed for storage in a separate container in the same freezer warehouse. The sanitary chamber immediately work was carried out disinfection.

Yesterday to the Office of Rosselkhoznadzor for the Primorsky Krai and the Sakhalin region received the results of repeated laboratory tests conducted FGBU "Federal Center for Animal Health" Rosselkhoznadzor, confirmed the presence in poultry genome of avian influenza virus.

Currently, Dangerous Goods materials are in the State Veterinary Inspection of Primorsky Krai. All further action in respect of isolated poultry will be conducted under the supervision of veterinarians subektovoy veterinary service.

There are a lot of other reports in the Russian media, from other regions of the country, that I haven't found official confirmation for, but which follow pretty much the same pattern.

Poultry products are shipped in, usually from the Rostov region - sometimes with a Veterinary Certificate of safety - and after local testing, the meat is found positive for the H5 bird flu virus.
But not always before a substantial quantity of the meat has already been sold.

Although a bit `tabloid' in tone, the following (translated) media report suggests a lot of potentially contaminated meat has already been sold to the public in Udmurtia


Author:     Co-author: Yasir Dyukina |
Do izhevchanam deadly virus threatens.

Avian influenza has reached and Udmurtia: in early May State veterinary experts in Udmurtia found infected with a dangerous virus turkey meat, which we put the company "Evrodon" from the Rostov region.
In total, according to Rosselkhoznadzor in Udmurtia and the Kirov region, the republic brought 12 tons of contaminated products. 4230 kg of dangerous meat is now withdrawn, but the 8 tons already bought up population. Is izhevchanam in mortal danger? To understand the situation.
         (Continue . . . )


The good news is that - assuming the virus in question is the HPAI H5N8 virus - we've never seen human infection with that subtype. The bad news is, these viruses are constantly evolving, and so what we say about specific strain today, may not hold true tomorrow.