From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2006-08-14 18:45:09 UTC
Subject: Okay, better details are now out on the bird flu (from USDA)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
For some reason a post wound up truncated and another didn't appear
so here is the info from yesterday *all together* as well as a little
info that is new today. This info can be shared in full without
changes.
As you will notice (unless they edited later), the original CNN story
did not mention the possibility that these swans might simultaneously
have two strains. That came out almost 2 hours later in a USDA Press
Release.
HHS also has a short note today (Wednesday), but the USDA one is the
best for real details. Also great from the USDA is this transcript
of the media briefing:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?
contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/08/0297.xml
Remember: if pets are not exposed they can't catch such illnesses so
pet birds, ferrets, cats, and for at least one of the most serious
strains also dogs, are best being indoor pets when the relevant
infections are present. In Asia and Europe where more serious
strains have been found keeping vulnerable pets indoors works
wonderfully. The ones who get it are the ones who wind up exposed by
being out and around infected birds and possibly their waste. BTW,
shoes left outdoors or where they can't be reached also makes sense
if an area is having to be careful about bird flu, just as is done
when a lot of canine distemper is in an area but ferrets haven't been
vaccinated recently.
---------------------------------
Here is the full stuff from yesterday which appeared sequentially
over a space of about 2 hours, including the USDA Press Release at
the bottom and a great CDC site just above it:
A strain of the H5N1 Bird Flu is now in the U.S. BUT IT IS ***NOT***
ONE OF THE HIGHLY PATHOGENIC STRAINS. It is the same low pathogenic
strain found earlier in Canada. It was found in mute swans in Michigan.
There is a mutation risk with this strain, too, though, so it could
become worse later, and later we may also see the worse strains making
it in, esp. through water fowl.
It would pay to exercise similar precautions at this time as are used
to prevent West Nile exposure, except remember that ferrets can also
get avian influenza types so perhaps add some precautions if you have
ferrets you take outside, especially in areas with water fowl.
Ferret people in Europe will already be using precautions in many areas.
In such locations people are advised to keep all pet birds, ferrets,
cats, and dogs indoors only.
I do not know if the low pathogenic strains of H5N1 can be gotten by
cats
and dogs as well as ferrets and some wild feline and mustelid species,
but the highly pathogenic strains can.
See:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/08/14/bird.flu.ap/index.html
Please, advise ferret club members that precautions may be warranted
but panic is not at all warranted at this time.
------------------------------
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
------------------------------
From: Sukie Crandall <sukiec@OPTONLINE.NET>
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?
contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/08/0294.xml
There is also the possibility that the swans had two simultaneous
viruses
rather than the one with both components; that will known about in 2
weeks.
Here is the Press Release:
Release No. 0294.06
Contact:
USDA Press Office (202) 720-4623
DOI Press Office (202) 208-6416
CONFIRMATORY TESTS BEING CONDUCTED ON MICHIGAN WILD BIRD SAMPLES
WASHINGTON, August, 14, 2006-The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and
Interior today announced that routine surveillance has indicated the
presence of H5 and N1 avian influenza subtypes in samples from two wild
mute swans in Michigan, but testing has ruled out the possibility of
this
being the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in
Asia, Europe and Africa. Test results thus far indicate this is low
pathogenicity avian influenza, which poses no threat to human health.
The swans were sampled as part of the expanded avian influenza
surveillance program. They were showing no signs of sickness, which
suggests that this is low pathogenicity avian influenza. Additionally,
genetic analysis of the virus conducted at USDA's National Veterinary
Services laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, suggests that it is similar
to a low pathogenicity strain that has been found in North America.
It is possible that these birds were not infected with an H5N1 strain,
but instead with two separate avian influenza viruses, one containing H5
and the other containing N1. The confirmatory testing underway at NVSL
will clarify whether one or more strains of the virus are present, the
specific subtype, as well as pathogenicity. These results are expected
within two weeks and will be made public when completed. It should be
noted that wild birds are known to harbor many influenza viruses, and
the finding of one or more of these viruses during routine testing is
not unusual.
The swans were sampled August 8 at the Mouillee state game area located
on the coast of Lake Erie in Monroe County, Michigan. The samples were
taken by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service personnel as
part of an expanded wild bird monitoring program. The Departments of
Agriculture and Interior are working collaboratively with States to
sample wild birds throughout the United States for the presence of
highly
pathogenic avian influenza.
Initial screening tests on the swan samples were conducted by Michigan
State University's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal
Health--part of USDA's National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
These tests indicated the presence of an H5 avian influenza virus.
Confirmatory testing at NVSL confirmed the H5 and the N1. This testing
also suggests, but has not yet confirmed, that this is low pathogenicity
avian influenza.
Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) commonly occurs in wild birds,
where it typically causes only minor symptoms or no noticeable symptoms.
These strains of the virus are not a human health concern. This
includes
LPAI H5N1, commonly referred to as the North American H5N1. This strain
of low pathogenicity avian influenza is very different from the more
severe HPAI H5N1 circulating overseas, which is commonly referred to as
the Asian H5N1.
Evidence of LPAI H5N1 has been found on two occasions in wild birds in
the United States. In 1975 and 1986, it was detected in wild ducks.
These detections occurred as part of routine sampling. LPAI H5N1 has
also been detected in Canada, most recently in 2005.
For more information, visit http://www.usda.gov/birdflu or
http://www.avianflu.gov.
FACT SHEET: Low-Pathogenicity H5N1 vs. High-Pathogenicity H5N1
FACT SHEET: Avian Influenza Testing And Diagnostics
USDA Bird Flu Information
PandemicFlu.gov & Avian Flu.gov
-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my
private posts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love
them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org
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