Free-grazing ducks and highly pathogenic avian influenza, Thailand

Thailand has recently had 3 epidemic waves of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI); virus was again detected in July 2005. Risk factors need to be identified to better understand disease ecology and assist HPAI surveillance and detection. This study analyzed the spatial distribution of HPAI outb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2006-02, Vol.12 (2), p.227-234
Main Authors: Gilbert, Marius, Chaitaweesub, Prasit, Parakamawongsa, Tippawon, Premashthira, Sith, Tiensin, Thanawat, Kalpravidh, Wantanee, Wagner, Hans, Slingenbergh, Jan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
animal husbandry
Animals
Avian influenza
Chickens - virology
Development and progression
Diagnosis
Disease Outbreaks
Ducks - virology
epidemiology
Feeding Behavior
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - pathogenicity
Influenza in Birds - epidemiology
Influenza in Birds - virology
Influenza, Human - prevention & control
Oryza sativa
Poultry - virology
Poultry Diseases - epidemiology
Poultry Diseases - virology
spatial analysis
Thailand
Thailand - epidemiology
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Summary:Thailand has recently had 3 epidemic waves of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI); virus was again detected in July 2005. Risk factors need to be identified to better understand disease ecology and assist HPAI surveillance and detection. This study analyzed the spatial distribution of HPAI outbreaks in relation to poultry, land use, and other anthropogenic variables from the start of the second epidemic wave (July 2004-May 2005). Results demonstrate a strong association between H5N1 virus in Thailand and abundance of free-grazing ducks and, to a lesser extent, native chickens, cocks, wetlands, and humans. Wetlands used for double-crop rice production, where free-grazing duck feed year round in rice paddies, appear to be a critical factor in HPAI persistence and spread. This finding could be important for other duck-producing regions in eastern and southeastern Asian countries affected by HPAI.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid1202.050640