Information presented about the avian influenza crisis that devastated poultry farms throughout Asia earlier this year reflects conditions reported for January-June 2004 and is based on data available at the time of the Bulletin’s preparation.
Since July, a “second wave” of avian influenza has broken out in Asia. Of this wave new cases were reported in poultry in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam; later, cases were reported in Malaysia and then Cambodia, as well.
In August 2004, Malaysia reported its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), subtype H5N1, in poultry near the border with Thailand, and several outbreaks were reported in September. China reported isolations of H5N1 viruses from pigs that had been sampled in 2001 and 2003, and Thailand and Viet Nam reported fatal human cases of infection with HPAI H5N1. An HPAI outbreak of the virus strain H5N2 in ostriches was reported in South Africa in August 2004.
To improve early warning and preparedness and to control the outbreaks to prevent the transmission of the disease to humans, FAO is launching subregional surveillance and diagnosis networks with national and international partners. In this context, an FAO Expert Meeting on the Control of Avian Influenza was held in Bangkok, Thailand, 21-23 July 2004 with the participation of experts from laboratories, scientific institutions, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and FAO. The meeting produced “Guiding Principles for Diagnosis and Surveillance of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza” to provide minimum requirements for surveillance and diagnosis of HPAI that can be applied by countries operating in collaboration with others in regional networks. Southeast Asian networks were launched at the beginning of August, East Asian networks will be launched towards the end of October and South Asian networks will follow shortly thereafter.
FAO released a position paper prepared in collaboration with OIE and in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO) entitled “Recommendations on the Prevention, Control, and Eradication of HPAI in Asia”. This paper makes recommendations on the management of HPAI, including the proper management of risks due to wild birds and other potential reservoirs of HPAI, avoidance of public health hazards and the appropriate use of vaccination to help control and eradicate HPAI.
For more information see http://www.fao.org/empres.
