Israel reports first H5N1 Avian Influenza cases this autumn
On September 26, a case of avian influenza was initially identified among backyard poultry in Sde Ya'akov (Northern Israel). Subsequently, the virus has now been detected in another location within the same geographical vicinity. This new occurrence has been observed in a group of heavy-breeding pullets, aged 11 weeks, totaling 63,000 birds, situated in Alonim.
It is noteworthy that the affected farm is situated in close proximity to a big water reservoir. This raises concerns regarding the introduction of the virus into farms with insufficient or nonexistent biosecurity measures, especially in light of the earlier backyard flock incident. In contrast, the most recent event has taken place on a farm with an exceptionally high level of biosecurity.
These occurrences underscore the heightened risk associated with farms located near water reservoirs in the context of avian influenza outbreaks. During this timeframe, we are witnessing the pinnacle of the migration season, where hundreds of millions of birds embark on their journey from Europe to Africa.
