Foot and mouth disease,
Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)

Information received on 18/05/2010 from Dr Thomas Sit, Assistant Director , Inspection & Quarantine, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Cheung Sha Wan , Hon Kong , Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)

Summary

Report type Immediate notification
Start date 05/02/2010
Date of first confirmation of the event 10/02/2010
Report date 18/05/2010
Date submitted to OIE 18/05/2010
Date event resolved 31/03/2010
Reason for notification New strain of a listed disease
Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
Causal agent Foot and mouth disease virus (SEA topotype)
Serotype O
Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced), Necropsy
This event pertains to the whole country
Related reports

New outbreaks

Outbreak 1 San Tin, HONG KONG
Date of start of the outbreak 05/02/2010
Outbreak status Resolved (02/03/2010)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Swine 614 150 0 0 0
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Swine 24.43% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments Historically, the serotype prevalent in Hong Kong has been and continues to be serotype O. Regarding the last cases, the Pirbright laboratory (OIE/FAO Reference Laboratory) reported the topotype as being Cathay. However, the results that returned at the end of March from Pirbright indicated that the topotype had changed from Cathay to Southeast Asia topotype on their phylogenetic chart, which is considered as a variation in the strain and appropriate to be reported to the OIE.

Note by the OIE Animal Health Information Department:
- This is a summary fro three outbreaks. Details for the other two outbreaks will be provided in the follow-up report.
- “The whole country” in this report refers to the territory of Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of the P. R. China).

Control measures

Measures applied
  • Movement control inside the country
  • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
  • No vaccination
  • Treatment of affected animals (symptomatic treatment)
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures

Diagnostic test results

Laboratory name and type Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong (SAR) (National laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Swine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 11/02/2010 Positive
Swine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 10/02/2010 Positive
Laboratory name and type Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory (OIE’s Reference Laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Swine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 24/03/2010 Positive
Swine nucleotide sequencing 24/03/2010 Positive
Swine reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 24/03/2010 Positive

Future Reporting

The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

Map of outbreak locations

Location of current outbreaks

Click on map to zoom in.