New OIE report on H5N1 in China

HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The location of the outbreak is in the far west of China near the border with Kazakhstan, possibly ~2000 km away from the Qinghai migratory bird outbreak.

The report indicates ~1,042 cases in "geese", with 460 deaths and ~13,000 culled. At this point there is no indication of which species, or if these were domestic or free-ranging geese. I would guess they were domestic geese.

The source of infection is still under investigation, but the "mode of spread" is indicated to be "migratory birds". The index farm is abackyard farm.

I'll pass more information along as it becomes available.

Damien