The bird flu situation in many Asian countries remains critical and requires more attention by affected countries and the international community, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said.
"Eradication of the virus from the eight affected Asian countries will not be easily achieved. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza must be considered as an endemic disease and must be controlled at source in animals," FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said in his opening statement at an international conference on bird flu in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was jointly organized by FAO, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
"We notice with considerable relief that a recent joint WHO/FAO/OIE mission to Viet Nam concluded that there is currently no evidence of virus change and that the virus is not as widely spread among humans as initially thought. The rumors of increased human cases and of low pathogenic strain circulation were not substantiated and therefore there is at the moment no need to raise the level of pandemic alert," Domenech said.
"But there is also no reason for complacency," Domenech added. "The virus continues to circulate in poultry and wild birds and requires highest attention. Many questions remain unanswered and more research and major investments for national and regional control operations are required," he said.
He called upon affected countries to share information openly about their prevention and control strategies, which should be in line with international recommendations.
In particular, the role of wildlife needed to be carefully investigated. The recent bird flu outbreak in the Province of Qinghai, China, showed that wildlife could play an important role in the dissemination of the disease. "FAO advises against the killing of wild birds. Instead, we are calling for strict surveillance and prevention measures, both for the separation of wild birds from domestic animals and the vaccination of poultry in areas at risk."
FAO said that more research is also needed to better understand the role of pigs. "The recommendation based on current knowledge is to raise pigs and other animal species separately, and to include pigs in surveillance plans when an outbreak occurs in poultry," Domenech said. "We are advising against the mass killing of pigs, which are a crucial part of farmers' livelihoods and of food security in Asia."