SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC
COMMUNITY
Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji
SECRÉTARIAT GÉNÉRAL DE
LA COMMUNAUTÉ du
PACIFIQUE
Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fidji
Téléphone: (679) 337 0733
Télécopieur:(679) 3386326
Telephone: (679) 337 0733
Fax: (679) 338 6326 Or 337 0021
ANIMAL HEALTH H1N1 Influenza A Update 4
Purpose:
6th May, 2009
To inform bio-security and agriculture agency personnel of developments regarding an
outbreak of a novel influenza A virus (H1N1) in humans
Background:
A new strain of AH1N1 influenza affecting humans has emerged in Mexico and is now spreading rapidly to
other countries.
Global Pandemic Alert Status
The WHO influenza pandemic alert remains on Phase 5 since 30 April, 2009 - Currently it appears there is
widespread human-to-human transmission in at least 2 countries (USA and Mexico).
Possible transmission from humans to pigs.
A carpenter hired by the farm owner travelled to Mexico recently and returned to Canada on 12 April 2009.
The carpenter, the producer and the producer's family had been ill with flu like symptoms between 14 – 29
April. Investigation of human cases is underway. A Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) team
attended the premises on 28 April and collected samples from pigs for influenza virus testing. On 2 May
2009, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported confirmation of H1N1 flu virus in a pig herd
that it is highly PROBABLE that the pigs were exposed to the virus from the carpenter who had recently
returned from Mexico and had been showing flu-like symptoms. The individual has recovered and all of the
pigs are recovering or have recovered. Further testing is underway to confirm.
OIE Notification
Summary of outbreaks
Outbreak Location and
Affected population

Total outbreaks: 1
ALBERTA (Clearwater county) : Farrow/Finishing Operation: 220
sows and their piglets in two barns and 1,800 growers in four barns. Clinical
signs (respiratory) were observed in the grower population. Mortality slightly
increased in the last few days in weanlings but at this point, it is not certain
how much of this is attributable to A/H1N1 influenza virus infection.
Total animals affected
Species
Swine
Outbreak statistics
Species
Swine
Susceptible Cases
2020
450
Apparent
morbidity
rate
22.28%
Deaths
0
Destroyed Slaughtered
0
0
Apparent
Apparent
mortality rate case fatality
rate
0.00%
0.00%
Proportion
susceptible
animals lost*
0.00%
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or
slaughter
Summary OIE notification
Report type
Immediate notification
Start date
21/04/2009
Date of first confirmation of
01/05/2009
the event
Report date
Date submitted to OIE
Reason for notification
Morbidity
Mortality
02/05/2009
05/05/2009
Emerging disease
25 %
0%
Statements from Chief Veterinary Officer of FAO
"The human-to-animal transmission that occurred in Canada does not come as a surprise as influenza viruses
are capable of transmitting from humans to animals," "The Canadian event should therefore not be a matter
of panic, but it should remind us of the human-animal link in virus transmission on which we definitely need
to keep an eye."
Influenza viruses, whether in humans or among animals, are constantly evolving genetically, along with
changes in their ability to cause morbidity and mortality in humans or animals. Therefore the current
A/H1N1 situation should be carefully monitored as many of the virus characteristics and developments are
still unknown.
Recommended Priority Actions – FAO
National authorities are encouraged to carefully investigate possible occurrences of Influenza-like events in
domestic animals. Virus samples may be collected and sent to national labs and/or international reference
centres. National authorities can always get in touch with FAO, and by contacting EMPRES-ShippingService@fao.org, avail of support for transporting samples for laboratory testing. In order to reduce the risk
for transmission of influenza A/H1N1 (humans-to-animals or animals-to-animals), FAO recommends the
following:





Case definitions for suspect and probable cases should be developed in collaboration with animal health
partners and disseminated widely. Outbreak investigation protocols and laboratory sampling procedures
should also be developed and disseminated to all veterinary professionals.
Surveillance for porcine respiratory disease should be intensified and all cases of porcine respiratory
syndrome should be immediately reported to the national veterinary authorities. The International
Organizations -- OIE and FAO -- should be informed when presence of the new A/H1N1 Influenza virus
is confirmed.
Movement restrictions should be implemented for all farms or holdings with swine showing signs of
clinical respiratory illness until diagnosis of the illness have been made. Where influenza A/H1N1 is
confirmed, these restrictions should be in force until seven days after the last animal has recovered.
Animals suffering from swine influenza can be separated from healthy herd-mates and allowed to
recover; there is no need to cull affected animals.
Animal handlers and veterinarians should wear protective gear to minimize risk of being infected by
zoonotic agents, including influenza. Persons who work directly with swine should be urged not to go to
work if they have any signs respiratory disease, fever or any influenza-like illness.


Countries to closely monitor H1N1 in pigs
Any influenza-like symptoms in pigs should be reported

national authorities and farmers to carefully monitor pigs and investigate any possible occurrences of
influenza-like symptoms in domestic animals.
Persons who work directly with swine should be urged not to go to work if they have any signs of
respiratory disease, fever or any influenza-like illness. Animal handlers and veterinarians should wear
protective clothing to minimize the risk of being infected.


Maintain close communication and collaboration with public health counterparts in country, and
readiness to support their operations in any way reasonably possible.



In collaboration with Health quarantine and other border control agencies intensify awareness to
incoming travellers including profiling high risk travellers as well as post-entry surveillance of
travellers, being key objectives of strengthened border protection measures
Advise the public and public health counterparts to take all necessary steps to ensure that sick people
are isolated from close contact with animals, particularly pigs and birds.
Adopt good personal hygiene practices such as frequent hand-washing with soap and water and
covering nose and mouth and turning away from close contacts when coughing and sneezing,
personal distancing (eg. standing 2 M apart when conversing, particularly with sick people; not
shaking hands as a greeting when sick), good laundry practices, masks for sick people, etc.
International Spread
The situation appears to be still evolving rapidly and as of 4th May, 2009, 21 countries have now reported
confirmed cases.
Animal Health and Bio-security Implications
Surveillance for porcine respiratory disease should be intensified and all cases of porcine respiratory
syndrome are recommended to be immediately reported to veterinary authorities.
It is also recommended to inform OIE and FAO about any occurrence of outbreaks of the new A/H1N1
Influenza virus in pigs.
Strict biosecurity measures including restriction of movements of pigs, goods and people should be applied
on all farms or holdings with swine showing signs of clinical respiratory illness until diagnosis of the illness
has been made. Where A/H1N1 influenza is confirmed, movement restrictions should be in force for seven
days after the last animal has recovered.
Governments are requested to provide full support in improving biosecurity measures particularly to small
and medium pig farmers.
Persons who work directly with swine should be urged not to go to work if they have any signs of respiratory
disease, fever or any influenza-like illness. Animal handlers and veterinarians should wear protective
clothing to minimize the risk of being infected.
Joint FAO/WHO/OIE/WTO Statement on influenza A(H1N1) and the safety of pork
In light of the spread of influenza A(H1N1), and the rising concerns about the possibility of this virus being found in
pigs and the safety of pork and pork products, we stress that pork and pork products, handled in accordance with good
hygienic practices recommended by the WHO, FAO, Codex Alimentarius Commission and the OIE, will not be a
source of infection.
To date there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted by food. There is currently therefore no justification in the OIE
Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Code for the imposition of trade measures on the importation of pigs or their
products.
However it is important that Veterinary Authorities should collaborate with human health counterparts to monitor pig
herds for any signs of unusual illness with suspected linkages to human cases of A(H1N1) influenza.
There is no need to slaughter animals in view of preventing circulation of the A/H1N1 virus. A/H1N1 virus
cannot be transmitted to humans by pork and pork products.
There is also no risk of infection from this virus through consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.
Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis when preparing food for
human consumption and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.
Pharmaceutical Measures
The existing Human AH1N1 seasonal influenza vaccine are not protective against infection with this new
AH1N1 influenza strain. The new flu virus strain (H1N1 Influenza A) is quite different from the existing
human AH1N1 seasonal influenza strains.
Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against the new flu strain if treatment is initiated early in the disease phase
.
SUMMARY


About 21 countries have now confirmed infection as per Table below
Most cases outside Mexico are mild cases with people recovering.
List of cases as of 5 May, 2009
Countries
1Mexico
2USA
3Canada
4UK
5New Zealand
6Spain
7Germany
8Switzerland
9Austria
10Netherland
11Israel
12China (HK)
13 Rep Korea
14France
15Denmark
16Costa Rica
17 Colombia
18 El Salvador
19 Italy
20 Ireland
21 Portugal
Confirmed cases
822
403
140
18
6
57
8
1
1
1
4
1
1
4
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
Deaths
25
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mortality %
4
0.4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Note: Large increase in numbers of confirmed cases from US, Mexico, Canada and Spain
AREAS WITH CONFIRMED CASES OF NEW INFLUENZA A/H1N1 VIRUS 04/05/2009
Notes: All US State, Canadian Province and international Country-level data are official WHO or CDC data. Every attempt
has been made to accurately determine more precise locations of Affected Areas, but these locations are not official.
AUSTRIA

Vienna
CANADA

ALBERTA
o Calgary
o Edmonton
o Northern
Alberta

BRITISH COLUMBIA
o Northern BC
o Vancouver
o Victoria

MANITOBA
o Brandon

NOVA SCOTIA
o Windsor

NEW BRUNSWICK
o Fredericton

ONTARIO
o Peel Region
o Toronto Area

QUEBEC
o Montreal
CHINA

Hong Kong
COLOMBIA

Zipaquira
COSTA RICA

San Jose
DENMARK

Copenhagen
EL SALVADOR

San Salvador
FRANCE

Paris
GERMANY

Hamburg

Bavaria State
IRELAND

Unspecified (East)
ISRAEL

Holon

Kfar Saba

Netanya

Tel Aviv
ITALY

Massa Carrara

Rome
MEXICO

Aguascalientes State

Baja California State

Cancun

Chiapas State

Chihuahua State

Colima State

Durango State

Guanajuato State

Guerrero State

Hidalgo State

Matamoros

Mexico City Federal
District

Mexico State

Michoacan State

Oaxaca State

Puebla State

Queretaro State

San Luis Potosi

Sonora

Tabasco

Tamaulipas

Tlaxcala

Veracruz State

Zacatecas
NETHERLANDS

Aalten
NEW ZEALAND

Auckland
SOUTH KOREA

Kwacheon
SPAIN

Andalucia

Aragon

Basque

Catalonia

Castilla-La Mancha

Galicia

Madrid

Murcia

Valencia
SWITZERLAND

Baden
UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND
o Barnet
o Chipping
Sodbury
o Devon
o Gloucestershire
o Liverpool
o London Area
o Merseyside
o Oxfordshire
o Newcastle
o Paignton
o Redditch

SCOTLAND
o Ayrshire
o Polmont
USA

ALABAMA
o Madison

ARIZONA
o Phoenix
o Pima County

CALIFORNIA
o Camp Pendleton
o Imperial County
o Los Angeles
County
o Marin
o Oxnard
o Riverside
County
o Sacramento
County
o San Diego
County
o San Francisco
o San Luis Obispo
County
o San Bernardino
Cty.
(Twentynine
Palms Military
Base)

COLORADO
o Arapahoe
County
o Douglas County
o Jefferson
County

CONNECTICUT
o Middlesex
County
o Stratford

DELAWARE
o Newark County

FLORIDA
o Broward County
o Lee County
o Orlando

GEORGIA
o La Grange




















ILLINOIS
o Chicago
o DuPage County
INDIANA
o Marion County
KANSAS
o Dickinson
County
MASSACHUSETTS
o Barnstable
County
o Middlesex
County
o Plymouth
County
MICHIGAN
o Livingstone
County
o Ottawa County
MINNESOTA
o Stearns County
MISSOURI
o Platte County
NEVADA
o Washoe County
NEW HAMPSHIRE
o Merrimack
County
NEW JERSEY
o Bergen County
o Burlington
County
o Monmouth
County
NEW MEXICO
o Valencia County
NEW YORK
o New York City
o Syracuse
OHIO
o Franklin County
o Lorain County
RHODE ISLAND
o Westerly
SOUTH CAROLINA
o Newberry
County
TENNESSEE
o Knox County
TEXAS
o Cameron
County
o Collin County
o Comal County
o Corpus Christi
o Dallas County
o Denton County
o Fort Bend
o Guadalupe
County
o Harris County
o Houston
o Johnson County
o Starr County
o Tarrant County
UTAH
o Summit County
VIRGINIA
o Chesterfield
o Northern Neck
o Rockbridge
County
WISCONSIN
o Adams County
o Milwaukee
County
6