Common plan needed to combat avian flu
Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Ministers, health experts and representatives of the United Nations joined in a meeting in Bangkok today , to find a strategy against the spread of the avian flu in order to prevent a global epidemic. Meanwhile, the dead of two sisters in Vietnam was confirmed. Till now, the virus killed at least 10 people.
WHO experts stressed that mass slaughter of infected birds is a key for controlling the epidemic's spread. On this point there was not any agreement regarding a common plan of action.
Participants attending the three-hours meeting, pledged to step up surveillance of the virus, to set up a regional veterinary network, to find new solutions to detect animal outbreak earlier, to develop low-cost tests, vaccination and anti-viral drugs. Modernization of poultry farming and a restriction of live animal markets in the region are necessary, Fao spokesman Diderik de Vleeschauwer said. The WHO said it is necessary to discuss about financial and technical help in the slaughter of infected birds, providing information about protection measures for people involved in the culling. WHO experts suspect migratory birds are responsible for the rapid spread of the virus across Asia. Indonesian authorities , due to lack of funds, decided to fight the virus vaccinating chickens rather than culling them. This decision was condemned by the WHO. According to Georg Peterson, WHO representative in Indonesia, vaccination is a preventive measure to be done only to healthy chickens. Meanwhile, according to some sources, a farmer and a three-years old child are suspected to be infected by the virus.
Thailand confirmed yesterday that the virus has been detected in one third of its provinces, including Bangkok. In the meantime, yesterday a 57 years old woman died, after the death of all the chickens she raised, but lab test results are awaited to verify whether the death was caused by the avian virus. A seven years old child from Suphan Buri has been confirmed to be infected by bird flu. He is in a critical condition at Bangkok's main children hospital.
In Vietnam almost all Kentucky Fried Chickens fast food outlets were closed, after switching to a fish menu.
In China, test results are being awaited on dead chickens in Hubei and Hunan provinces. The authorities in Guangxi said that the situation is under control. The Ministry of Agriculture said that sufficient preventive measures have been implemented. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has banned poultry imports from Guangxi, Hubei and Hunan.
Australia has tightened surveillance of fishing boats, restricted public access to poultry farms and involved sniffer dogs and X-ray machines at airports to stop people introducing into the country food which could be tainted with the virus.
Singapore has protected its bird farms with netting and doubled farm inspections and increased checks on fowl shipments from Malaysia. (MR)
.png)
