WattAgNet: Myanmar avian influenza outbreak resolved Avian influenza Myanmar

Written December 30, 2015 By Roy Graber
With all affected properties depopulated, disinfected and showing no new signs of the virus, country declares itself free of avian influenza

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza that hit Myanmar earlier in 2015 is over, according to a report received by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The outbreak was first reported by Dr. Ye Tun Win, Myanmar’s chief veterinary officer, in May, after active clinical and serological surveillance began several weeks prior to that. A total of 90 chicken farms and 51 quail farms in Myanmar were infected and all poultry within the infected zone was immediately depopulated and movement of poultry and poultry products within the infected area was restricted.

Since the control measures – stamping out, movement control inside the country, disinfection, dipping and spraying, quarantine, and zoining – were implemented, surveillance activities conducted at 8,600 farms and wet markets were found to be clinically healthy and no evidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza was observed. The surveillance included backyard poultry, broilers, layers, breeder chickens and ducks.

Because three months have passed since the disinfection of all affected establishments has been completed with no new evidence of avian influenza, Myanmar now considers itself to be free of the virus. The OIE deems the avian influenza situation in Myanmar resolved and will no longer submit reports relating to it.