Brief End-Of-Year Update on Avian Flu
By: Carlo Caduff<http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/avianflu/news/dec1907fao.html>
Despite recent spikes in H5N1 avian influenza activity in humans and birds, there have been fewer bird outbreaks in fewer countries this
year [2007] than in 2006, according to a preliminary report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
As of 10 Dec 2007, 30 countries had reported H5N1 cases in birds this year [2007], compared with 54 in 2006, the FAO reported. This year, 5
countries have reported their 1st outbreaks: Bangladesh, Benin, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, and Togo. Except for sporadic outbreaks in wild
birds, most of the H5N1 cases this year occurred in domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and quail.
The H5N1 outbreaks seemed to follow a seasonal pattern, in line with
evidence that cooler temperatures are more favorable to influenza
viruses. The FAO said outbreak numbers in 2007 were high between
January and April, declined until September, and then started rising
again in November and December.
Increased awareness and improved disease surveillance have enabled
countries such as India, Romania, Malaysia, and Turkey to detect and
control the spread of the H5N1 virus, the FAO reported. However, the
disease persists in Asia, Africa, and Europe and poses a risk for
countries that have controlled outbreaks in the past and those that
have not experienced infections yet, the organization stated.
The FAO said Indonesia is still having a large number of H5N1
outbreaks in poultry, which largely reflects a new "participatory
disease search" program designed to detect infections in backyard
poultry. The program, with support from the FAO, is operating in 162
districts and 9 provinces.
Among other Asian hot spots for the disease, Viet Nam reported H5N1
outbreaks in 22 provinces in May 2007, the FAO reported. It said the
disease appears to be endemic in Bangladesh.
China had H5N1 outbreaks in Tibet in March 2007, Hunan province in
May 2007, and Guangdong province in September 2007, the agency said.
In addition, routine surveillance detected the virus in March and
April 2007 in the southern Chinese provinces of Fujian, Guangdong,
Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, and Chongqing, the FAO reported. Also, wild
bird deaths were reported in Hong Kong but not in mainland China.
The only Middle Eastern country reporting an H5N1 outbreak so far
this year [2007] has been Saudi Arabia, which had its 1st cases in
March 2007, followed by several outbreaks near Riyadh in November
2007 [Seven outbreaks officially reported to the OIE, but unofficial
data mention 38 outbreaks since November 2007; see 20071224.4131. - Mod.AS].
In Africa, 4 countries have reported H5N1 outbreaks in 2007, and the
FAO said the virus is considered endemic in Egypt and possibly in
Nigeria. "Several countries in West, Central, South, and North Africa
are at risk of becoming infected, and early warning, surveillance,
and preventive measures should urgently be taken," the organization reported.