The final epidemiology report on the recent outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza in Suffolk (UK) has been published by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The virus was detected in several turkey products manufactured by Bernard Matthews (UK) in early 2007. The meat was sourced from Hungary where the virus was thought to first infect the turkey. An investigation was carried out by the UK National Emergency Epidemiology Group in collaboration with the European Commission and the Hungarian authorities. The full report can be viewed at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/epid_findings050407.pdf
According to the report, no specific source has been found with conclusive evidence. The most probable explanation is that the virus entered the UK via contaminated turkey meat from Hungary. The infected turkey may have acquired the virus from wild birds but did not show any disease symptoms.
“The epidemiology investigation is an important part of increasing our understanding of avian influenza. Most potential routes of infection are controlled through current procedures. However, the outbreak in Suffolk appears to be the outcome of a series of normally low probability events and circumstances which cumulatively led to the introduction of disease,” commented Debby Reynolds, DEFRA’s Chief Veterinary Officer.
Bernard Matthews will receive more than £500,000 compensation for the culling of its healthy bird stock to prevent possible disease spread. The UK Food Standards Agency has announced that after a thorough investigation, there is not enough evidence for any prosecution.
“Although we cannot be sure how the outbreak happened, this episode reflects the need for constant vigilance, high levels of biosecurity and robust and well developed contingency planning in dealing with animal disease outbreaks,” said Ben Bradshaw, the UK Minister for Animal Health and Welfare.
“This report illustrates the importance of effective biosecurity for all food business operators, as there is a continuous low level risk of introduction of avian influenza to the UK. There are always lessons to be learnt after any outbreak and that process is underway”, added Reynolds.
Source: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK (www.defra.gov.uk)
Australia: new lethal LCMV-like virus
A new virus, related to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), has been identified as the cause of death of three organ-transplanted patients in January 2007.
These patients had been transplanted with kidneys and liver from one donor in December 2006. Their unfortunate deaths in January 2007 suggested the presence of a lethal infectious pathogen, yet initial investigation by the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (Australia) did not reveal any causative agent using available standard tests.
Samples were sent to the Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory of Columbia University (NY, USA) where new high-throughput DNA sequencing technology combined with advanced bioinformatics was used to identify a previously unknown virus. Research on the identification of new infectious agents carried out at the Columbia University is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the US NIH. The new virus is most closely related to LCMV, a rodent-borne virus causing meningitis in humans. Human-to-human transmission of LCVM has not been reported, except in a few recent cases of organ transplantation.
“Tissue samples kept from the three recipients who died after their transplants all have evidence of having been infected with this new virus,” said John Carnie, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer. “Further studies to characterize the virus are underway in both Victoria and the USA.”
“The discovery of this new virus is of national and international significance. Much more work is needed to fully understand the nature and behavior of this virus,” added Carnie. New diagnostic techniques based on genetic sequences of this newly identified virus may be used for better screening and to improve the safety of organ transplantation.
Although further research is needed to understand more about this new lethal virus, its presence in three organ-transplantation cases is not considered as a public health threat for the time being.
Sources: Department of Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Australia (www.dhs.vic.gov.au)
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, MD, USA (www.niaid.nih.gov)