A new influenza A virus type, H5N7, has been identified for the first time in ducks in Denmark (1). Following disease among 12 000 ducks raised to be released for hunting at a duck farm near the town of Salling in Jutland, 2 viruses were identified: a Duck Virus Enteritis (DVE), which caused the disease, and an influenza A virus. All ducks had to be exterminated on 10 Sep 2003 due to the disease. 

The influenza A virus was isolated from the tissues of several of the ducks. The Statens Serum Institut used full-length haemagglutinin and neuraminidase reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction (HA and NA RT-PCR) with routine sequencing, which is used directly on clinical samples rather than cultured virus, to genotype this new virus as H5N7. This type has never previously been identified, and further analysis is now being carried out on the virus. Importantly, this new virus has not been detected in humans, especially not among those people who had contact with these ducks, or in several unrelated influenza A virus cases (H3N2) diagnosed in Denmark since 1 Sep 2003. 12 avian influenza A virus (AIV) strains have been isolated from wild birds in Denmark since 1996, none of which have been H5 or H7. 

Influenza A viruses are divided in 15 subtypes based on HA (H1-15) and 9 subtypes based on NA (N1-9). Wild birds seem to be the natural reservoir for avian influenza (AIV). Although low-pathogenic H5 and H7 exist, all highly pathogenic AIV are either H5 or H7. Pathogenicity of H5 and H7 AIV depends at least partly on the amino acid sequence at the cleavage site in HA1/HA2. 

Such pathogenic sequences were not found. Therefore this AIV strain is being grouped as having low pathogenicity. The potential to change pathogenicity -- during replication in birds or recombination in pigs and/or humans, for example -- is not known. Highly pathogenic AIV of type H5 and N7 have occasionally infected humans. This occurred in Hong Kong in 1997 (H5N1), where 6 of 18 infected patients died (2), and again in 2003 where 1 of 2 infected humans died, and in the Netherlands (H7N7) (3) in 2003, where 1 of 80 infected patients died. The World Health Organization has recommended that all countries establish national pandemic planning committees in case of influenza epidemics. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic/en/ 

Laboratory surveillance networks and fast genotyping methods should be integral to the work of these national committees. 

[Byline: Anders Fomsgaard () and Karoline Bragstad, Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut; and Poul Jørgensen, Danmarks Veterinærinstitut (Danish Veterinary Institute), Aarhus, Denmark] 

References _____ 

(1) Statens Serum Insitut [Denmark]. New influenza virus identified for the first time in the world at Statens Serum Institut. News item, 19 Sep 2003. http://www.ssi.dk/sw419.asp?PAGE=1&ArtNo=2019067 

(2) Claas EC, Osterhaus AD, van Beek R, De Jong JC, Rimmelzwaan GF, Senne DA, et al. Human influenza A H5N1 virus related to a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Lancet 1998; 351: 472-7.
http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol351/iss9101/full/llan.351.9101.original_research.7618.1 

(3) Crofts J. Avian influenza human death reported in the Netherlands. Eurosurveillance Weekly 2003; 7(17): 24 Apr 2003.  http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2003/030424.asp http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2003/030925.asp

A German psychologist is specialising in treating chickens and is helping them deal with problems ranging from gender issues to neurosis.  Barbara Luetzeler, from Bonn, is the country's only chicken psychologist.

She says one of her cases involved a hen named Lucie who always wanted to be a cock.

"She was so dissatisfied she'd drive everybody out of her territory, even the cat," the 38-year-old told the Express newspaper.  Eventually, Lucie settled into her new role and even managed a crow - "Initially, it still sounded a little hoarse, but very proud," she said.

Luetzeler also diagnosed about 2000 chickens with "Autobahn Neurosis" after all of them simultaneously started wagging their heads for no apparent reason. 

It turned out they were disturbed by the loud noises of the nearby motorway and symptoms disappeared when their owner moved their enclosure to a more quiet spot.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2003--Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that there are no longer any areas in the United States that are quarantined because of exotic Newcastle disease (END), a serious disease of poultry and other birds.

"This administration is committed to enhancing our pest and disease control and prevention efforts," Veneman said. "I congratulate all the state and federal personnel who have worked tirelessly to eradicate exotic Newcastle disease."

While this is a major milestone in the fight to end what was a very serious avian disease outbreak, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials warn that continued precautions should be taken against the  reintroduction of END.

Today's action removes portions of Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, Calif., from the list of END quarantined areas. This means that restrictions are removed on the movement of birds, poultry and certain other articles from those areas. This action comes 11 months after END was verified in California.

END is one of the most infectious poultry diseases in the world. It is a contagious and fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of all species of birds. The virus is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted through infected birds' droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth and eyes. END is not considered a public health threat.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) encourages bird owners to take biosecurity precautions and to report sick birds immediately to local animal health authorities.

This interim rule is scheduled for publication in the Sept. 19 Federal Register and was effective Sept. 16. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Nov. 18.  Send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 02-117-10, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comments must be contained in the body of the message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the message and use "Docket No. 02-117-10" on the subject line.

Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.