The resurgence of 'bird flu' could trigger a global pandemic. Photo: Reuters
by Brendan Hughes,
Aug 31 2011
Western Mail, Wales Online, UK
FEARS of a new outbreak of bird flu have been raised by the United Nations, following the emergence of a mutated strain of the disease that is able to sidestep vaccines.
The avian flu variant has appeared in Vietnam and China and its risk to humans cannot be predicted, say UN veterinary officials.
It could also threaten Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, where eight people have died after becoming infected this year, they warned.
The World Health Organisation says avian flu has killed 331 people since 2003.
And more than 400m domestic poultry worldwide have been killed or culled as a result of the virus, causing an estimated £12.2bn of economic damage.
Experts in Wales said yesterday the new strain of the virus is unlikely to have an impact on the health of humans in Britain.
And the Welsh Government reassured the public that the country had “strong contingency plans” in place to prevent and tackle any potential outbreak.
At its peak in 2006, there were 4,000 outbreaks of avian flu in 63 countries across the globe.
The H5N1 virus has since been eliminated in most territories, but it remains endemic in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation called on countries to adopt “heightened readiness and surveillance” against a resurgence of the virus.
Juan Lubroth, FAO chief veterinary officer, said: “Wild birds may introduce the virus, but people’s actions in poultry production and marketing spread it.”
In the past two years, avian flu has appeared in poultry or wild birds in countries that had been virus-free for some years.
Dr Roland Salmon, the director of Public Health Wales’ communicable disease surveillance centre, said the development of a mutant, vaccine-resistant strain of bird flu should not cause alarm.
“I don’t think this has a great deal of human health implications.
“Any problem that you’re likely to see in Britain is almost certainly going to kick off among British poultry, rather than among humans.
“You’re not going to suddenly get 50 people in Britain infected with bird flu, but you might get a flock of birds here infected,” he said.
FEARS of a new outbreak of bird flu have been raised by the United Nations, following the emergence of a mutated strain of the disease that is able to sidestep vaccines.
The avian flu variant has appeared in Vietnam and China and its risk to humans cannot be predicted, say UN veterinary officials.
It could also threaten Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, where eight people have died after becoming infected this year, they warned.
The World Health Organisation says avian flu has killed 331 people since 2003.
And more than 400m domestic poultry worldwide have been killed or culled as a result of the virus, causing an estimated £12.2bn of economic damage.
Experts in Wales said yesterday the new strain of the virus is unlikely to have an impact on the health of humans in Britain.
And the Welsh Government reassured the public that the country had “strong contingency plans” in place to prevent and tackle any potential outbreak.
At its peak in 2006, there were 4,000 outbreaks of avian flu in 63 countries across the globe.
The H5N1 virus has since been eliminated in most territories, but it remains endemic in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation called on countries to adopt “heightened readiness and surveillance” against a resurgence of the virus.
Juan Lubroth, FAO chief veterinary officer, said: “Wild birds may introduce the virus, but people’s actions in poultry production and marketing spread it.”
In the past two years, avian flu has appeared in poultry or wild birds in countries that had been virus-free for some years.
Dr Roland Salmon, the director of Public Health Wales’ communicable disease surveillance centre, said the development of a mutant, vaccine-resistant strain of bird flu should not cause alarm.
“I don’t think this has a great deal of human health implications.
“Any problem that you’re likely to see in Britain is almost certainly going to kick off among British poultry, rather than among humans.
“You’re not going to suddenly get 50 people in Britain infected with bird flu, but you might get a flock of birds here infected,” he said.
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