Swine flu infects 4 in western Mongolia

Via Xinhua :

" Mongolian health officials confirmed that four people have been infected with the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, in a remote western province, local media reported.

Nine people with suspected symptoms of the flu were discovered by a hospital in Bayan-Ulgii province, and four of them have tested positive for H1N1, said the report.

The confirmed cases involved two women and two infants.

The National Emergency Management Authority has decided to impose a week-long quarantine in the provincial capital, where schools will be closed and no public events are allowed to be held during this period."

Equine influenza epidemic breaks out in Mongolia

Via Xinhua :

" The Mongolian government has confirmed equine influenza, a disease that mainly affects horses, broke out in 14 provinces.

The government's news office announced the confirmation Tuesday after suspected cases were recently discovered in 18 provinces of the country, where horses still play a key role.

According to a Mongolian government report, Mongolian Vice Premier M. Enkhbold called a state emergency situation committee meeting on Monday to respond to the epidemic.

Millions of horses will need to be vaccinated, given cases of the disease have been discovered in all but three provinces -- Bayan-Ulgii, Zavkhan and Umnugobi.

Equine influenza usually broke out in spring and fall, said an official of the Mongolian veterinarian and breeding bureau. He urged vaccination to be carried out as soon as possible.

Mongolia has experienced several equine influenza outbreaks in the past few decades. Outbreaks in Khovd province in 2007 and 2008 caused huge losses to the local livestock industry."

Bird Flu Kills Wild Swans in SE Mongolia

Article from The Poultry Site :

" MONGOLIA : Three swans found dead on a lake in south-east Mongolia, near the border with China, were infected with H5 subtype of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.

The veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated 19 April to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The report describes the finding of three Whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) on 5 April at Zegst lake at Dariganga soum in Sükhbaatar province. The disease is reported to be subclinical and the birds have died.

The presence of an H5 sub-type of the avian influenza virus has been confirmed.

The last outbreak of HPAI in the country was in June 2010."

Mongolia reports outbreak of bird disease "Newcastle"

A report from Xinhua :

" ULAN BATOR, Aug. 30 : Mongolian State Emergency Commission on Monday announced an outbreak of contagious bird disease "Newcastle," the first time in the country's history.

The outbreak occurred at a commercial chicken farm in the Ulan Bator region. Chicken death was reported at the farm 10 days ago and experts confirmed the outbreak, tentatively concluding the disease was transmitted from chicken feed.

So far about 50 chicken on the farm have died. A total of 1,600 eggs will be confiscated and destroyed, 4,847 chicken be slaughtered and the farm is to be disinfected, according to a decree of the State Emergency Commission.

There are a total of about 270,000 chicken in chicken farms of the Ulan Bator region. Currently, quarantine has been imposed in all chicken farms and mobile patrols have been set up around the area."

Northern Mongolia hit by anthrax outbreak

Via Xinhua :

" ULAN BATOR, July 8 : Mongolian authorities on Thursday confirmed that three herders have been infected with anthrax and that containment measures are already under way.

All three cases happened in the Selenge province in northern Mongolia, where authorities have taken measures to quarantine and disinfect areas surrounding the herders' residences, the national emergency management authority said.

Seven other local residents were suspected of being infected with the usually fatal bacterial disease, which affects both animals and human beings, and have been sent to hospitals, the government said."

Mongolia continues fight against foot-and-mouth disease

Via Xinhua :

" ULAN BATOR, July 6 : The government will continue to fight foot-and-mouth disease in eastern Mongolia by vaccinating millions of livestock, officials said Tuesday.

Efforts to fight the disease in eastern Mongolia were continuing and the vaccination of the country's livestock would also continue, Enkhbold Miegombo, deputy premier and chairman of the national emergency commission, said during a commission meeting.

The commission said the government has spent 326 million Tugrig (0.22 million U.S. dollars) on the vaccination of cattle herds. So far, 1,400 infected cattle have been slaughtered and buried in Dornod province."