June 13, 2005

USDA: 13,500 birds culled in Xinjiang bird flu
 

On Jun 10, an outbreak of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on a backyard farm in Xinjiang was reported to FAS Beijing by the China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). 

There were 2,177 susceptible and 460 infected birds. A total of 13,457 birds were destroyed. While the Chinese Government has isolated the infected area and vaccinated birds around the area, the source of the outbreak at the Tacheng district, Tacheng city in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is still under investigation. 

On June 8, China's Ministry of Agriculture's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jia Youling, notified this outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

This is the second time within three weeks that China reported to OIE on a HPAI outbreak. The previous outbreak, which was reported on May 21, occurred in migratory birds in the Qinghai Province just adjacent to Xinjiang. 

It is too early to say how this outbreak will affect China's poultry production.  Xinjiang is not a main poultry-producing province in China and its annual slaughter is only about 74 million birds. This is less than 1 percent of China's total slaughter. If the disease could be controlled efficiently, it would not have an impact on China's poultry production. 

According to ASQIQ, no country has taken quarantine measures against China's commercial poultry yet.

For the full USDA report, click here.