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The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu that has hit several
countries in Asia is likely to be carried to the Middle
East, Europe, South Asia and Africa along the flyways of
wild water birds, the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization warned Wednesday.
Birds flying from Siberia, where the H5N1 virus has been
detected recently, may carry the virus to the Caspian and
Black Sea in the foreseeable future. These regions and countries
in the Balkans could become a potential gateway to central
Europe for the virus.
"FAO is concerned that poor countries in southeast Europe,
where wild birds from Asia mingle with others from northern
Europe, may lack the capacity to detect and deal with outbreaks
of bird flu," said Joseph Domenech, FAO's chief veterinary
officer.
Bird migration routes also run across Azerbaijan, Iran,
Iraq, Georgia, Ukraine and some Mediterranean countries,
where bird flu outbreaks are possible, FAO said.
India and Bangladesh, which currently seem to be uninfected,
are also considered to be at risk. Bangladesh, and to a
lesser extent India, harbor large numbers of domestic ducks
and are situated along one of the major migratory routes.
They have the potential to become new large endemic areas
of bird flu infection, FAO warned.
"Avian influenza is an international problem that definitely
needs a strong international response," Domenech said.
Prevention strategies
FAO urged countries at risk, especially along the routes
of migrating birds, to step up surveillance of domestic
poultry and wild birds. Countries should prepare national
emergency plans.
Close contacts between humans, domestic poultry and wildlife
should be reduced and closely monitored. On farms and at
markets, domestic birds should be strictly separated from
wild animals to the greatest extent possible. Vaccinating
poultry could also be considered in at-risk situations.
FAO called upon affected countries and the international
community to battle the bird flu virus at its origin, in
poultry.
"As long as the H5N1 virus circulates in poultry, humans
continue to be at risk. This is why we have set up several
regional networks in Asia to improve the cooperation between
countries," Domenech said.
FAO and the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) have
also developed a strategy for the control of avian influenza
in Asia that will cost over $100 million to support surveillance,
diagnosis and other control measures, including vaccination.
So far, donors have pledged around $25 million in support
of the strategy.
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