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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Thailand January 26, 2004 Impact Worksheet |
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Summary: On January 23, 2004, the Thai Government confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in humans and chickens. HPAI, subtype H5N1, has been confirmed in two human patients and in chickens in two provinces. Since mid-December 2003, HPAI subtype H5N1 has been confirmed in the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Cambodia. HPAI in Cambodia was confirmed on January 24, 2004. Worldwide, human cases have been confirmed only in Thailand and Vietnam, and to date, no human-to-human transmission of subtype H5N1 has been documented.
Thailand is a major exporter of poultry products. Thailand exported nearly 12 percent of world stocks of duck meat and 4.3 percent of world stocks of chicken meat in 2002. A majority of Thailand’s exported chicken meat went to Japan (56 percent) and the European Union (EU; 28 percent). Japan and the EU have suspended poultry imports from Thailand.
Because Thailand is not considered free of exotic Newcastle disease by the USDA, US imports of poultry or poultry products from Thailand are restricted. During 2002 through November 2003, the US imported processed shell eggs and egg products, and feathers and down. These processed products are not a disease transmission risk and are legally imported products. During this same time period, a small number of live birds were imported. Live birds are quarantined in US ports prior to clearance for entry into the country, during which time testing for infectious diseases, including avian influenza, takes place.
Swine can play a role in the transmission and epidemiology of avian influenza outbreaks. Thailand is not considered free of classical swine fever or swine vesicular disease by the USDA and therefore the US did not import any live swine or swine products of risk during 2002 through November 2003.
How extensive is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Thailand, and what was Thailand’s disease status prior to the outbreak?
The government of Thailand confirmed the occurrence of human
and avian cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Thailand on January
23, 2004. This is the first reported occurrence of HPAI in Thailand. HPAI,
subtype H5N1, has been confirmed in two human patients and in chickens as
of January 19, 2004. Human cases have been reported from Supanburi and Kanchanaburi
provinces; the first chicken flock was reported from Supanburi province where
66,350 laying hens on one farm were depopulated. The outbreak may have began
as early as November 2003, when unofficial reports of highly fatal disease
outbreaks in poultry appeared in the media. At that time, the outbreaks were
attributed to fowl cholera.
Since mid-December 2003, HPAI has been confirmed in Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Cambodia. HPAI in Cambodia was confirmed on January 24, 2004. As of press time, there were unofficial reports of HPAI in Indonesia as well as concurrent outbreaks of Newcastle disease. As of January 26, 2004, 23 of Vietnam’s 61 provinces were affected and 2.9 million poultry stock had died or been destroyed. HPAI was also documented in Taiwan in December, when subtype H5N1 was isolated from ducks found on the water offshore of Quemoy Island, illegally smuggled from China. In addition, low pathogenic avian influenza (H5N2) has been confirmed in chickens in two prefectures in Taiwan.
To date, human cases have occurred only in Vietnam and Thailand. In Vietnam, a total of 7 patients have been confirmed to be infected with subtype H5N1; 6 have died (5 children and 1 adult). The World Health Organization (WHO) reports no evidence of person-to-person transmission, and WHO laboratories are working to characterize the avian and human viruses from the outbreaks. For additional information, please see impact worksheets for HPAI in the Republic of Korea, Vietnam and Japan at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cei/worksheets.htm.
Source: OIE Disease Information Report; World Health Organization
What is Thailand’s place in the international market for poultry and poultry products?
Thailand is a major exporter of poultry products. In 2002, Thailand exported nearly 12 percent of world stocks of duck meat and 4.3 percent of world stocks of chicken meat, but produced and exported relatively small amounts of shell eggs and egg products relative to world production and trade (Table 1). A majority of Thailand’s exported chicken meat went to Japan (56 percent) and the European Union (28 percent); the remaining product was exported to other Asian countries, the Middle East and South Africa. Japan and the EU have suspended poultry imports from Thailand. Products included in the EU ban on Thai imports included fresh meat of poultry, ratites, wild and farmed feathered game, poultry meat preparations and poultry meat products consisting of or containing meat of the above mentioned species. Imports of raw material for pet food production and eggs for human consumption destined for the EU have also been suspended.
In 2002, Thailand had 150 million head of poultry, accounting for less than 1 percent of the world stocks of chickens and geese and 2.6 percent of ducks (Table 2). Thailand produced 2 percent of world stocks of chicken meat, 3.2 percent of duck meat, and 1.4 percent of world egg production in 2002.
Table 1: Exports of live Poultry and Poultry Products, Thailand, 2001 - 2002
| 2001 |
2002 |
% of World Exports, 2002 |
||||
| Exports |
Quantity |
Value |
Quantity |
Value |
Quantity |
Value |
| Live Birds (1,000 head) |
||||||
| Chickens |
4,268 |
4,641 |
4,432 |
5,428 |
0.5% |
0.6% |
| Ducks |
12 |
7 |
164 |
55 |
1.0% |
< 1% |
| Eggs and Fresh or Frozen Meat (mt) |
||||||
| Chicken meat |
309,543 |
538,708 |
330,381 |
534,657 |
4.3% |
7.3% |
| Duck meat |
20,191 |
36,285 |
22,194 |
42,252 |
12.1% |
11.9% |
| Eggs, shell |
2,292 |
2,395 |
3,968 |
2,570 |
< 1% |
< 1% |
| Eggs, liquid, dried |
2,564 |
3,708 |
3,236 |
4,311 |
1.6% |
1.4% |
Source: United Nations FAO
Table 2: Poultry Stocks and Production, Thailand, 2001 and 2002
| 2001 |
2002 |
||
| Stocks |
Stocks |
% of World Stocks |
|
| Chicken |
113,951 |
121,000 |
< 1% |
| Ducks |
28,448 |
28,448 |
2.6 % |
| Geese |
250 |
250 |
< 1% |
| Production |
Production |
% of World Production |
|
| Chicken meat |
1,260,000 |
1,344,000 |
2.1% |
| Duck meat |
105,000 |
105,000 |
3.2% |
| Eggs |
801,700 |
801,700 |
1.4% |
Source: United Nations FAO
What are the US imports of live birds or poultry products from Thailand?
Because Thailand is not considered free of exotic Newcastle disease by the USDA, imports of poultry or poultry products from Thailand are restricted. From January-November 2003, the US imported processed shell eggs and egg products, and feathers and down (Table 3). These processed products are not a disease transmission risk and are legally imported products. The US does import live birds from Thailand; 5 and 7 live birds were imported in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Most birds were imported for commercial purposes. Live birds are quarantined in US ports prior to clearance for entry into the country, during which time testing for infectious diseases, including avian influenza, takes place.
Swine can play a role in the transmission and epidemiology of avian influenza outbreaks. Thailand is not considered free of classical swine fever or swine vesicular disease by the USDA and therefore the US did not import any live swine or swine products of risk during 2002 through November 2003.
Mexico imported no poultry or poultry products from Thailand. In 2003, Canada imported a considerable number of products, most of which were processed meat and feathers/down (Table 4). Also in 2003, Canada imported small amounts of fresh or frozen poultry meat.
Table 3: US Imports of Live Birds and Poultry Products from Thailand, 2002 – Nov. 2003
| Product |
2002 |
2003 (Jan. – Nov.) |
||
| $value |
Quantity |
$value |
Quantity |
|
| Bird eggs not in shell, processed or preserved |
0.440 |
321,668 kg |
0.526 |
382,584 kg |
| Egg yolks, processed or preserved |
0 |
0 |
0.008 |
7,976 kg |
| Bird eggs in shell, preserved or cooked |
0.126 |
234,055 dzn |
0.182 |
309,126 dzn |
| Feathers, cleaned and disinfected |
0 |
0 |
0.029 |
12,635 kg |
| Articles of feather and down, processed |
0.086 |
not reported |
0.038 |
not reported |
| Skins and other parts of birds with feathers or down, processed |
0 |
0 |
0.022 |
not reported |
Source: World Trade Atlas; VS Import Tracking System
Table 4. Canadian Imports of Live Birds and Poultry Products from Thailand, 2002 – Nov. 2003
| Product |
2002 |
2003 (Jan. – Nov.) |
||
| $value* |
Quantity |
$value* |
Quantity |
|
| Poultry meat and edible offal, fresh, chilled or frozen |
0 |
0 |
0.001 |
249 kg |
| Poultry meat, prepared or preserved |
0.868 |
136,352 kg |
5.715 |
1,029,672 kg |
| Feathers, cleaned and disinfected |
0.764 |
not reported |
0.597 |
0.597 |
| Skins and other parts of birds with their feathers or down, processed |
0 |
6 kg |
0.004 |
525 kg |
*Canadian dollars
Source: World Trade Atlas
What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in the United States from Thailand?
In 1999, 112,000 passengers arrived in the US from Thailand on direct flights. However, some of these passengers may have been in transit and may not have originated their travel in Thailand. A total of 66,848 air passenger arrivals in the US in 2002 reported Thailand as their country of residency.
As part of USDA, APHIS-PPQ’s Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Monitoring system, 887 air passengers arriving in the US from Thailand in fiscal year 2002 were sampled for items of agriculture interest. None these passengers were found to be carrying poultry items that could potentially pose a risk for HPAI.
Source: Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, US Department of Commerce, USDA APHIS-PPC Agricultural Quarantine Inspection database.
CEI’s plans for follow up: CEI will continue to monitor the situation and may issue additional reports. If you need more information or if you want to comment on this worksheet, you may reply to this message, or contact Kathy Orloski (970-494-7221) or Chris Kopral (970-494-7325).