Emergence of avian influenza in Africa increases pandemic risk: UN Food and Agriculture Organization
“The possibility of a human pandemic hangs over us,” warns the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in a statement published this week. “H5N1 remains a potent threat around the world, both to animals and humans,” the agency says, noting that, with the arrival of the virus this year in Africa, there is much cause for concern. “Failure by any one country to contain the disease could lead to rapid re-infection in many more countries,” UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Assistant Director-General Alexander Müller said in a statement ahead of a major donor conference in Bamako, Mali. “One weak link can lead to a domino effect, undoing all the good that we have achieved so far. Now is no time for complacency.” FAO says that several parts of the world remain particularly vulnerable because of a shortfall in donor funding, including Africa, eastern Europe and the Caucasus, and Indonesia. According to FAO: “Africa must now be a top priority for resources and technical assistance in the battle against avian influenza.” However, the agency is also calling for continued commitment to unaffected parts of the world like Latin America and the Caribbean, “where FAO’s investment in national and regional preparedness planning is paying off.” Winning the battle against the virus demands a long-term vision, with more surveillance, rapid response to outbreaks and greater transparency and sharing of information essential. “Scientific breakthroughs on improved diagnostics, vaccines and treatments can only emerge if virus information is shared widely and willingly, for the greater good,” FAO says. FAO is calling on countries to place stronger emphasis on hygiene and movement control throughout the animal production and marketing chain to produce positive results. “In Viet Nam, for example, an integrated strategy of surveillance and laboratory capacity building, movement control, vaccination and culling has averted what could have been a disaster,” the agency notes. Senior UN System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza David Nabarro said last month that $1.5 billion is needed worldwide over the next two to three years for preventive measures. So far, FAO has received just $76 million for its activities, and agreements have been signed for $25 million more, with a further $60 million in the pipeline.
•Date: 7th Dec 2006• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning |
