Penumbra Pandemia

"HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in Saxony Germany
Recombinomics Commentary 17:25
October 10, 2008
In the establishment affected there are 800 geese, 550 ducks, 60 chicken and 24 turkeys.
There were no movements of animals into or out of the holding concerned within the last 21 days.
The detection of HPAI H5N1 was performed in relation to routine laboratory investigation.
With several animals referring to the bird flu virus were present. 'It was not only a duck', said district administrator long one.

The above comments from the recently file OIE report, and the media translation described the HPAI H5N1 outbreak in Saxony (see satellite map). The H5N1 PCR positive was initially found in one duck, but the media report indicates more birds have tested positive, and throat swabs have been collected with humans linked to he outbreak.
The finding of HPAI H5N1 increases the likelihood that the H5N1 will be clade 2.3 (Fujian) although the outbreak may be a re-emergence of the clade 2.2 (Qinghai / Uvs Lake strain), which was widespread in Europe, including Germany, last season.
Clade 2.3 was reported last spring for South Korea, Japan, and Russia, which included wild bird outbreaks in Japan and Russia, raising concerns of migration of clade 2.3 to Europe this season.
Sequence data on these new infections in Germany would be useful."
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According to the OIE report it was a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain meaning that the birds must have been killed by it.

"Germany reports new H5N1 outbreak
CIDRAP News
Lisa Schnirring
Oct 10, 2008
Animal health officials in Germany today reported an [highly pathogenic] H5N1 avian influenza outbreak at a commercial farm in Saxony, signifying the country's first outbreak since December 2007.
The outbreak was detected at a farm in Markersdorf, in east central Germany not far from the border with Poland, according to a report today from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The report said one bird tested positive for the H5N1 virus.
Elke Reinking, a spokeswoman for the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Insel Riems, Germany, said the bird that tested positive was a duck, according to a report today from Bloomberg News.
According to the OIE report, the H5N1 in the single bird was detected during 'routine laboratory investigation.' There were no movements of animals into or out of the affected farm within the last 21 days, the report said.
The OIE report said 1,434 of the remaining birds were culled to control the spread of the disease. The farm contained 800 geese, 550 ducks, 60 chickens, and 24 turkeys.
Germany's last H5N1 outbreaks occurred in December 2007, striking poultry at three small farms in Brandenburg state, according to previous reports.
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See also:
Oct 10 OIE report on German outbreak

"Bird Flu Outbreaks, S.korea To Halt Imports Of Chicks From Germany
BERNAMA
SEOUL, Oct 11
Following reports of a bird flu outbreak, South Korea said Friday it has halted the import of chicks from Germany.
The halt on quarantine inspections follows reports indicating a H5N1 virulent strain outbreak in the European country, according to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
'The measures are temporary and implemented as a precaution, but it will be upgraded to an outright ban if it is confirmed to be avian influenza,' Yonhap news agency quoted a government official as saying.
South Korea currently only permits the import of chicks, but prohibits grown chickens and ducks from being brought into the country.
A local farmer imported 12,000 chicks from Germany in July, the only import this year.
The ministry took fire for failing to contain an outbreak earlier in the year that is estimated to have caused damages exceeding 250 billion won (US$190 million).
It began implementing year-round monitoring of local poultry farms, bird markets and migratory birds following the incident."