Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (infection with) (non-poultry including wild birds),
Israel
Information received on 14/10/2020 from Dr Tamir Goshen, Acting Director, Veterinary Services and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Beit Dagan, Israel
Summary
Report type Immediate notification
Date of start of the event 12/10/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 14/10/2020
Report date 14/10/2020
Date submitted to OIE 14/10/2020
Reason for notification Recurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 03/02/2020
Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
Causal agent Highly pathogenic influenza A virus
Serotype H5N8
Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports Immediate notification (14/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 1 (19/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 2 (26/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 3 (29/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 4 (06/12/2020)
New outbreaks (1)
Outbreak 1 (Jerusalem zoo) Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Yerushalayim
Date of start of the outbreak 12/10/2020
Outbreak status Resolved (31/10/2020)
Epidemiological unit Zoo
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Mallard:Anas platyrhynchos(Anatidae) 2 2 0 0
Ferruginous Pochard:Aythya nyroca(Anatidae) 0 0 0 0
Grey Heron:Ardea cinerea(Ardeidae) 1 1 0 0
Mute Swan:Cygnus olor(Anatidae) 11 2 2 0 0
Egyptian Goose:Alopochen aegyptiaca(Anatidae) 0 0 0 0
Black Swan:Cygnus atratus(Anatidae) 26 22 16 6 0
Spur-winged Lapwing:Vanellus spinosus(Charadriidae) 1 0 1 0
Great Cormorant:Phalacrocorax carbo(Phalacrocoracidae) 1 1 0 0
Domestic pigeon:Columba livia domestica(Columbidae) 2 2 0 0
Affected population The birds are from a lake area in the Jerusalem's zoo. Only black swans have been affected among the other species. At first, four of the black swans were found dead and two of them showed neurological signs when one of them died and the other was euthanized because of the severity of the signs. Up to 19 October 2020, 13 out of 26 swans were found dead. Up to 26 October 2020, 22 out of 26 black swans died or were euthanized. Only two out of 11 mute swans died. There is an impression that black swans are more susceptible to the virus than mute swans.
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Mallard:Anas platyrhynchos(Anatidae) 2 2 0 0
Ferruginous Pochard:Aythya nyroca(Anatidae) 0 0 0 0
Grey Heron:Ardea cinerea(Ardeidae) 1 1 0 0
Mute Swan:Cygnus olor(Anatidae) 11 2 2 0 0
Egyptian Goose:Alopochen aegyptiaca(Anatidae) 0 0 0 0
Black Swan:Cygnus atratus(Anatidae) 26 22 16 6 0
Spur-winged Lapwing:Vanellus spinosus(Charadriidae) 1 0 1 0
Great Cormorant:Phalacrocorax carbo(Phalacrocoracidae) 1 1 0 0
Domestic pigeon:Columba livia domestica(Columbidae) 2 2 0 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Mallard:Anas platyrhynchos(Anatidae) ** ** 100.00% **
Ferruginous Pochard:Aythya nyroca(Anatidae) ** ** - **
Grey Heron:Ardea cinerea(Ardeidae) ** ** 100.00% **
Mute Swan:Cygnus olor(Anatidae) 18.18% 18.18% 100.00% 18.18%
Egyptian Goose:Alopochen aegyptiaca(Anatidae) ** ** - **
Black Swan:Cygnus atratus(Anatidae) 84.62% 61.54% 72.73% 84.62%
Spur-winged Lapwing:Vanellus spinosus(Charadriidae) ** ** 0.00% **
Great Cormorant:Phalacrocorax carbo(Phalacrocoracidae) ** ** 100.00% **
Domestic pigeon:Columba livia domestica(Columbidae) ** ** 100.00% **
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
**Not calculated because of missing information
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Contact with wild species
Epidemiological comments October is the migration season from Europe where 500 million birds are passing over Israel. Most likely, the virus has been introduced by migratory birds.
Control measures
Measures applied
  • Zoning
  • Quarantine
  • Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone
  • Movement control inside the country
  • Vaccination prohibited
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result
Kimron Veterinary Institute, Avian Diseases Laboratory (National laboratory) Black Swan pathogen isolation by egg inoculation Pending
Kimron Veterinary Institute, Avian Diseases Laboratory (National laboratory) Black Swan real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 14/10/2020 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Map of outbreak locations