Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
www.wcs.org

WCS Global Health Program

Avian Influenza Surveillance: On July 30, a final report was submitted to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) by the Mongolian authorities confirming H5N1 (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) as the cause of the die-off of wild birds on Doitiin Tsagaan Lake in Arkhangai province in central Mongolia (first reported in May 2009).  In early August, a second die-off of birds was reported on Doroo Tsaagan Lake of Arkhangai province.  The WCS AI team responded to the event, completed a mortality survey of the lake and collected samples for HPAI testing from both live, apparently healthy birds and dead specimens.  This response followed that of the Mongolian authorities who were able to collect samples from an initial group of 56 dead birds which are being tested at the State Central Veterinary Laboratory. The Doroo Tsagaan Lake outbreak has been reported to OIE as HPAI based on test results confirming H5.  These 2009 HPAI outbreaks in wild birds in Mongolia are the first since 2006.