H5N8 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Beijing

A wild swan H5N8 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak occurred at the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park in Haidian District, Beijing, according to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture website on Monday.

The notification said that on February 1, the Ministry of Agriculture and rural Affairs received a report from the China Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control that a wild swan H5N8 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak occurred at the Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park in Haidian District, as confirmed by the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory. The Epidemic site was inhabited by 15 wild birds, with 3 illnesses and 3 deaths. After the outbreak, the local emergency response mechanism was immediately activated to carry out emergency disposal work, disinfection of the surrounding environment, all sick and dead wild birds have been harmlessly disposed of.