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Situation, Notification, Achievements,
and Recommendations
Situation and Notification:
Heavy losses in poultry populations commenced in the region in
mid 2003. Starting in Dec 2003, eight countries and
territories (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR,
Republic of Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam) in the region have
reported confirmed outbreaks of H5N1 to OIE. Since early Feb.
2004 outbreaks have not been reported from additional
countries.
The geographic distribution, rate of spread and severity of
this epizootic are unprecedented. It is estimated that more
than 100 million birds have died or have been killed in
stamping out measures following OIE guidelines. Two countries
have used vaccination as an additional disease control tool
(Indonesia and China). In addition, Pakistan is currently
experiencing an outbreak of H7N3 and has adopted a strategy of
stamping out combined with vaccination.
The origin of the H5N1 outbreak and the mechanism(s) for its
rapid and vast dissemination, both nationally and
internationally, is not yet understood. The disease has had
disastrous affects on the poultry industry through its impact
on international trade and domestic consumption of poultry
products. The public health impact has been most apparent in
Viet Nam and Thailand with the deaths of 22 people. In some
countries the disease situation is not clear because of
weaknesses in diagnosis, surveillance capacity and variable
adherence to obligations for timely and accurate reporting.
More frequent updates of the disease situation in animals is
necessary to allow preventive measures in neighboring
countries and to facilitate emergency preparedness for any
necessary animal and public health interventions.
Reporting of significant animal disease events should be
independent of commercial and political considerations.
Achievements:
Achievements to date have been significant.
There is evidence that in some countries the massive control
efforts undertaken have reduced the overall level of disease.
In other countries the disease situation is not clear.
Countries have taken various disease control measures
including culling infected flocks, quarantine and movement
control, disinfection of affected premises and emergency
vaccination in some countries. However, implementation of
these measures should be broadened, strengthened and tailored
to individual country situations.
Contingency plans have been prepared and activated by
non-infected countries.
Efforts have been undertaken to link the activities by the
different national ministries such as agriculture, human
health, and trade to address this epizootic through a multi-sectoral
and comprehensive approach.
Recommendations:
A regional avian influenza coordination group should be formed
to facilitate joint decision making, information sharing and
training.
Member countries better fulfill their obligations for early
and regular disease and epidemiological information
notification to the OIE.
There should be an agreed mechanism for the systematic
collection and epidemiologic analysis of all animal disease
outbreak data, and comprehensive molecular analysis of field
virus strains. This should be linked to public health
surveillance systems.
The capacity of national animal and public health services for
disease surveillance, response, control and prevention
activities should be strengthened.
FAO
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