Disease Information
13 April 2001
Vol. 14 - No. 15
AVIAN INFLUENZA IN HONDURAS
Detection of positive reactors
Emergency report
Translation of a fax received on 10 April 2001 from Dr Francisco Rodas Chavarría, Director General, National Animal and Plant Health Service (SENASA), Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), Tegucigalpa:
Report date: 9 April 2001.
Date of laboratory detection: 5 April 2001.
In the course of routine serological sampling carried out by the Honduras Epidemiological Surveillance System along the border with El Salvador, out of 255 samples 32 birds tested positive in the following communities:
Location No. of positive birds community of Zacate, Yarula district 2 community of Cojores, Yarula district 2 community of Aguasinga, Yarula district 4 community of Ojo de Agua, Santa Elena district 3 community of San Francisco, Marcala district 4 community of Colomoncagua, Colomoncagua district 5 community of Magdalena, Magdalena district 7 community of San Francisco, Magdalena district 5 Total 32
Diagnosis:
A. Laboratory where the detection took place: Honduran Institute for Medical and Veterinary Investigations, Central Reference Laboratory, Tegucigalpa.
A shipment of samples (cloacal swabs and organs) is being prepared to be sent to the USDA-APHIS(1) laboratory in Ames, Iowa, United States of America.
B. Tests carried out: AGID(2) testing.
C. Causal agent: although the serological tests yielded positive results, virus isolation will be required in order to confirm the diagnosis.
Source of agent / origin of infection:
- According to tracing-back studies, the origin of the samples, the background and field sampling protocols indicate that the birds came from a neighbouring country. Interviews in the affected communities established that birds had been acquired from that country. These birds were brought into Honduras through "blind spots" a fortnight ago as part of an informal commercial exchange.
- The possibility is also being investigated that these are post-vaccination reactors.
Protection measures:
- Establishment of a 25-km-wide buffer zone along the border with El Salvador. The control zone covers an area of 6,900 kmē.
- Establishment of movement control posts to control movements of birds and avian products and by-products between this area and the rest of the country. To date, in the control zone, the following numbers of movement control posts have been set up: 11 of category 1, 9 of category 2 and 3 of category 3.
- Epidemiological monitoring by means of continuous sampling in the control zone.
- Immediate depopulation is carried out in the communities where birds have tested positive.
(1) USDA-APHIS: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture.
(2) AGID: agar gel immunodiffusion.
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