Bird flu virus - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Monday called for heightened preparedness and surveillance amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly bird flu virus is spreading in Asia and beyond. The FAO, in a statement, said: 'While the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus was eliminated from most of the 63 countries infected at its peak in 2006, it remained endemic in six nations.'

It noted that, 'outbreaks have risen since then, with almost 800 cases recorded between 2010 and 2011.'

The agency’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Juan Lubroth, also stated that, 'migrations have helped the virus travel over long distances and expand geographically.'

Lubroth also said: 'In the past two years, the H5N1 virus has shown up in poultry or wild birds in countries that had been virus-free for several years.'

He disclosed that areas recently affected by the virus were found in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Bulgaria, Romania, Nepal and Mongolia.

He also said that another cause for concern was the appearance in China and Viet Nam of a variant virus that is able to bypass the defences provided by existing vaccines.

The FAO noted that, 'most of the northern and central parts of Viet Nam, where H5N1 is endemic, have been invaded by the new virus strain, known as H5N1 – 2.3.2.1. The country had suspended its springtime poultry vaccination campaign this year.'

It also said that, 'Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam, where the virus is still firmly entrenched, are likely to face the biggest problems but all countries
need to be vigilant.'

It added that, 'preparedness and surveillance remain essential,' stressing that, 'this is no time for complacency. No one can let their guard down with H5N1.'

Since 2003, the H5N1 virus has killed or forced the culling of more than 400 million domestic poultry and caused an estimated US$20 billion of economic damage across the globe before it was eliminated from most of the 63 infected countries.

According to the WHO: 'The H5N1 virus has infected 565 people since it first appeared, killing 331 of them.'

Pana 30/08/2011