Avian Influenza infection in wild birds (seagulls) in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
After confirmation of the registration of bird flu infection in wild birds (seagulls) in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the Directorate of Veterinary in Iraq is increasing its measures to limit the spread of the Avian Influenza disease to the rest of the country.
The Minister of Agriculture through the directorate of Veterinary, announced that immediate measures were taken to limit the spread of Avian Influenza after positive H5N1 strain laboratory confirmation, fro the infection of seagulls in the Kurdistan Region , Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Dokan District.
The migratory birds are seasonally seen at the area around the dam of Dokan, to the west of Sulaymaniyah governorate and near to the border of Iran. Few days ago news of death of wild birds was spread in the media.
Dr. Thamer Habib Hamza Al-Khafaji, The Director General of the Veterinary, said that he “chaired a meeting of the central operations room to control the bird flu disease problem, and issued a number of quick directives as a result of the bird flu infection in seagulls located in the Kurdistan Region / Sulaymaniyah Governorate ,Dukan area”
The Veterinary Health Authority issued directives after discussing the report submitted by the investigation committee which was sent to the field on 5/14/2024, took samples (seagulls) and sent them to the central veterinary Research and laboratory in Baghdad. The team raised a report about the disease and the problem, and discussed the positive laboratory results of samples of seagulls in the area of infection, which were of the H5N1 strain.
The directorate of Veterinary instructed all veterinary hospitals, especially those bordering the Kurdistan region of Iraq, were also directed to raise the maximum levels of monitoring and investigation of the disease in poultry projects, domestic poultry breeding, and bird selling in the local markets, and to send samples to the central veterinary research and laboratory in Baghdad for any suspected case of the disease.
The directorate of Veterinary decided to inform the veterinary and administrative health authority in the Kurdistan region, about the results of laboratory tests for taking vital security and safety measures in the Dokan region. Because wild birds, including seagulls, represent the natural reservoir of the bird flu virus, therefore, precautionary and safety measures must be taken to avoid direct human contact with seagulls in the Dukan area.
The Director General also stressed “the necessity of continuing to hold meetings of the central operations room to control this disease and coordinate with the Kurdistan region for the purpose of containment and control, and the necessity of working with a plan.”
Control and containment will depend on the national Avian Influenza plan and based on previous experiences of bird flu in Iraq.
Veterinary experts are stressing on the importance of the adopting a high standard of biosecurity measures at the all poultry farms. The area of Dokan dam is full with many kinds of wild birds and they are in close contact with domestic birds at the villages in the area. It seems that the Ducks can the most important birds as they are more susceptible for the H5N1 strain. As avian influenza is speeding among cattle at the west of the United States of America, veterinary experts are emphasis on the monitoring of cattle at the area to contain any susceptible case.
Avian Influenza is a zoonotic disease and is a real threat for the human health and for economy of the country, this need a full cooperation among all related parties from the federal and regional government and from the organizations of poultry producers, international organization like FAO, WHO and WOAH can be part of the support team.
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