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PAHO: Animal, Human Surveillance Critical to Contain Avian Influenza
[ 04/01/2006 ]
PAHO: Animal, Human Surveillance Critical to Contain Avian Influenza
Speaking at a briefing for ambassadors at the Organization of American States, Dr. Etienne said, “The risk of a pandemic is great, persistent, and the evolution of the threat cannot be predicted. We have a window of opportunity to intervene now by strengthening public health systems to deal with epidemics. Leadership at the highest levels is necessary and governments must afford this problem a high priority.”
“We are concerned because the 105 deaths we have seen so far represent a case fatality rate of 57 percent, and every case increases the risk for emergence of a virus strain that could be transmissible between humans, though that fatality rate would drop in that event,” she added.
Dr. Etienne noted that the last Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata had given PAHO a mandate to coordinate regional preparations for influenza, and cited the Organization’s 30-year tradition of influenza surveillance with national centers in 25 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. “There is a critical link between animal and human surveillance,” she said.
The briefing, co-sponsored by PAHO and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, also included participants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and private sector groups such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and the National Chicken Council.
IICA Director-General Dr. Chelston Brathwaite said avian flu would have a major impact on food production and consumption, with economic consequences for the poultry industry. “We need to improve the preparedness of our agricultural systems with laboratory facilities, trained people, and good response plans” to prevent, contain and treat avian influenza in birds and halt its spread among domestic poultry, he said.
J. Daniel Caine, special assistant to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, said the USDA “will stand side by side with you and we will always try to provide assistance” in the fight to prevent and contain avian influenza in the Americas, noting that biosecurity measures “can go a long way to minimize the spread to animal and human populations.” He said the USDA will work “to minimize this threat. We will hope for the best but prepare for the worst.”
Highly pathogenic H5N1 is an avian influenza virus that has caused the death or destruction of more than 150 millions birds in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In eight countries—Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam—the virus has also, in rare instances, jumped to humans, producing 186 human cases and more than 105 deaths. Nearly all human cases have been traced to close contact with infected poultry, particularly home slaughtering and butchering.
Concerns about H5N1 have grown recently as the virus has spread to birds in at least 45 countries, 30 of them in the past two months. Migratory waterfowl are believed to play a key role in spreading the virus, along with the commercial movement of domestic poultry.
To date, there is no evidence that H5N1 has entered the Western Hemisphere, and animal health experts from PAHO say that no one can predict if or when the virus will reach the region, but it is imperative to prepare for such a possibility.
An even greater concern is that the H5N1 virus could develop the capacity to be transmitted easily between humans. Because the world population would have no immunity to the virus, this could spark a pandemic. It is impossible to predict the likelihood of this happening. However, even if H5N1 does not spark the next influenza pandemic, PAHO experts emphasize that all preparedness efforts will help strengthen public health in general and improve the public health response to other health emergencies.
The arrival of H5N1 via birds in the Americas could have a substantial economic and health impact. Controlling the disease in birds can require extensive culling, and virtually all countries that have detected H5N1 in birds--whether wild or domestic--have experienced significant declines in poultry consumption. In the PAHO region, the impact on food security for the population could be significant, as poultry is a major source of protein in the region. In addition, home slaughtering and butchering of infected poultry are unsafe practices that directly threaten human health.
PAHO food safety experts emphasize that poultry meat that is properly handled and cooked is safe, even in countries where the virus has been detected.
As part of its ongoing technical cooperation programs, PAHO is helping its member countries develop and implement national and regional pandemic preparedness plans. The organization has urged all its member countries to complete their plans before June 2006, in accordance with the mandate of the Summit of the Americas, and to begin implementing these plans as soon as possible.
With offices in nearly every country in Latin America and Caribbean, PAHO is uniquely positioned to support and coordinate country efforts in this area. PAHO/WHO country offices have already provided guidance to ministries of health and agriculture in the collection of samples for testing and can help arrange for transport of specimens to international reference laboratories. The organization is also organizing subregional training workshops on pandemic preparedness and communications.
PAHO is coordinating its efforts on avian influenza with IICA, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health (OIRSA). The OIE is coordinating these inter-agency efforts through the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Trans-border Animal Diseases (GF-TADs).
PAHO’s Strategic and Operational Plan for Responding to Pandemic Influenza details its plan of action in support of member countries’ preparedness and response efforts on both avian and pandemic flu and for resource mobilization to support its efforts. Terms
“Bird Flu” – Avian influenza, which most commonly affects birds and only rarely infects humans.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – Avian flu that kills most of the birds it infects. Only H5 and H7 strains are highly pathogenic in birds.
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) – Avian flu that is fairly common and not highly lethal to birds. LPAI can, under certain field conditions, evolve into HPAI.
“Pandemic Flu” – Human influenza caused by a novel virus to which the world’s population has little or no immunity, and which results in large outbreaks in various regions of the world.
http://www.medicalnewsservice.com/fu...3840&fback=yes
[ 04/01/2006 ]
PAHO: Animal, Human Surveillance Critical to Contain Avian Influenza
Speaking at a briefing for ambassadors at the Organization of American States, Dr. Etienne said, “The risk of a pandemic is great, persistent, and the evolution of the threat cannot be predicted. We have a window of opportunity to intervene now by strengthening public health systems to deal with epidemics. Leadership at the highest levels is necessary and governments must afford this problem a high priority.”
“We are concerned because the 105 deaths we have seen so far represent a case fatality rate of 57 percent, and every case increases the risk for emergence of a virus strain that could be transmissible between humans, though that fatality rate would drop in that event,” she added.
Dr. Etienne noted that the last Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata had given PAHO a mandate to coordinate regional preparations for influenza, and cited the Organization’s 30-year tradition of influenza surveillance with national centers in 25 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. “There is a critical link between animal and human surveillance,” she said.
The briefing, co-sponsored by PAHO and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, also included participants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and private sector groups such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and the National Chicken Council.
IICA Director-General Dr. Chelston Brathwaite said avian flu would have a major impact on food production and consumption, with economic consequences for the poultry industry. “We need to improve the preparedness of our agricultural systems with laboratory facilities, trained people, and good response plans” to prevent, contain and treat avian influenza in birds and halt its spread among domestic poultry, he said.
J. Daniel Caine, special assistant to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, said the USDA “will stand side by side with you and we will always try to provide assistance” in the fight to prevent and contain avian influenza in the Americas, noting that biosecurity measures “can go a long way to minimize the spread to animal and human populations.” He said the USDA will work “to minimize this threat. We will hope for the best but prepare for the worst.”
Highly pathogenic H5N1 is an avian influenza virus that has caused the death or destruction of more than 150 millions birds in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In eight countries—Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam—the virus has also, in rare instances, jumped to humans, producing 186 human cases and more than 105 deaths. Nearly all human cases have been traced to close contact with infected poultry, particularly home slaughtering and butchering.
Concerns about H5N1 have grown recently as the virus has spread to birds in at least 45 countries, 30 of them in the past two months. Migratory waterfowl are believed to play a key role in spreading the virus, along with the commercial movement of domestic poultry.
To date, there is no evidence that H5N1 has entered the Western Hemisphere, and animal health experts from PAHO say that no one can predict if or when the virus will reach the region, but it is imperative to prepare for such a possibility.
An even greater concern is that the H5N1 virus could develop the capacity to be transmitted easily between humans. Because the world population would have no immunity to the virus, this could spark a pandemic. It is impossible to predict the likelihood of this happening. However, even if H5N1 does not spark the next influenza pandemic, PAHO experts emphasize that all preparedness efforts will help strengthen public health in general and improve the public health response to other health emergencies.
The arrival of H5N1 via birds in the Americas could have a substantial economic and health impact. Controlling the disease in birds can require extensive culling, and virtually all countries that have detected H5N1 in birds--whether wild or domestic--have experienced significant declines in poultry consumption. In the PAHO region, the impact on food security for the population could be significant, as poultry is a major source of protein in the region. In addition, home slaughtering and butchering of infected poultry are unsafe practices that directly threaten human health.
PAHO food safety experts emphasize that poultry meat that is properly handled and cooked is safe, even in countries where the virus has been detected.
As part of its ongoing technical cooperation programs, PAHO is helping its member countries develop and implement national and regional pandemic preparedness plans. The organization has urged all its member countries to complete their plans before June 2006, in accordance with the mandate of the Summit of the Americas, and to begin implementing these plans as soon as possible.
With offices in nearly every country in Latin America and Caribbean, PAHO is uniquely positioned to support and coordinate country efforts in this area. PAHO/WHO country offices have already provided guidance to ministries of health and agriculture in the collection of samples for testing and can help arrange for transport of specimens to international reference laboratories. The organization is also organizing subregional training workshops on pandemic preparedness and communications.
PAHO is coordinating its efforts on avian influenza with IICA, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health (OIRSA). The OIE is coordinating these inter-agency efforts through the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Trans-border Animal Diseases (GF-TADs).
PAHO’s Strategic and Operational Plan for Responding to Pandemic Influenza details its plan of action in support of member countries’ preparedness and response efforts on both avian and pandemic flu and for resource mobilization to support its efforts. Terms
“Bird Flu” – Avian influenza, which most commonly affects birds and only rarely infects humans.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – Avian flu that kills most of the birds it infects. Only H5 and H7 strains are highly pathogenic in birds.
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) – Avian flu that is fairly common and not highly lethal to birds. LPAI can, under certain field conditions, evolve into HPAI.
“Pandemic Flu” – Human influenza caused by a novel virus to which the world’s population has little or no immunity, and which results in large outbreaks in various regions of the world.
http://www.medicalnewsservice.com/fu...3840&fback=yes