New bird flu outbreaks in E Asia require vigilance: FAO

New Delhi, Jan 23 (UNI) United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has expressed concern over new outbreaks of avian influenza in East Asia and Africa.

Identifying countries like China, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, FAO stressed that the number of outbreaks in the first weeks of 2007 had been significantly lower than the epidemic waves of last year.

The UN agency urged countries to remain vigilant and fully cooperate with international organizations. The virus continues to kill people and damage farmers' livelihoods.

FAO noted that it seemed that the intercontinental spread of the H5N1 virus by wild birds migrating from Asia to Europe and Africa had not taken place during this autumn/winter season at the same level as it had in 2005.

However, poultry trade and the transport of live birds could still spread the virus. Cold weather enhances virus survival, but farming systems and wild bird migration as well as the movement of animals during important holiday seasons such as Tet and Eid also play a role, a FAO release received here today said.

The virus persisted in several Asian countries as well as in Egypt and Nigeria. Other countries might have been affected but were yet to report.

With the start of the first epidemic wave in Asia in late 2003 and early 2004, eight countries became infected. During 2004-05, the situation improved in some countries but remained largely unchanged.

In 2005-06, the virus spread from East Asia to Siberia, Eastern Europe, the West Asia and Africa with over 40 countries affected.

Since the beginning of this year, eight countries had reported infections.

''Recent outbreaks are following a seasonal pattern and do not come as a great surprise. But we need to remain on the alert as the recent outbreaks show. It is crucial that countries themselves step up their surveillance, detection and rapid response measures,'' said FAO's Senior Health Officer of Animals.

In view of the widespread virus distribution in Indonesia, FAO has suggested that in addition to ongoing control measures, day-old chicks should be vaccinated before they left their hatcheries and were nationally distributed, as well as blanket vaccination in heavily infected districts.

FAO also said that the private sector should be more closely involved in avian influenza control campaigns.

UNI