自從去年12月以來，在15個國家所爆發的禽流感疫情證實了H5N1病毒菌株仍對全球帶來致命的威脅，聯合國糧食及農業組織（UNFAO）24日表示，目前仍需要緊密的監控機制和強力的控制。一位資深的FAO官員表示：即使動物健康官員們對於控制病毒比三年前要準備充分，但是這場危機仍未結束。
「這個病毒並沒有變的更具傳染力，但卻已經傳布至亞洲、非洲和歐洲，接下來可能對導致一場人類流行感冒的大流行。」FAO獸醫學官員杜明尼克(r Joseph Domenech)警告著。
自2003以來在14個國家所發生的353個人類感染案例裡，世界衛生組織報告221人因此喪生。
孟加拉、貝南、中國、埃及、德國、印度、印尼、伊朗、以色列、緬甸、波蘭、俄羅斯、烏克蘭、土耳其和越南已經確認新的H5N1病毒的家禽裡爆發，包含雞、火雞、鵝和鴨。
「在這一波家禽的疫情裡，所有的過程包含：消毒、銷毀、活動控制和農場及市場的生物安全都顯示不足且需要改進，疫苗接種計畫在大型農場裡大致相當成功，但是並沒有推及到小規模的農家。」
在西非的貝南、迦納、奈及利亞和多哥在2007年即有疫情傳出，杜明尼克指出，病毒有極大的風險會在該區紮下蔓延的基礎。
「偵測和立即處置的機制在所有的國家裡，特別是歐盟，相當有效」，杜明尼克表示，「但我們多見家禽之間的傳染案例，而非野鳥所造成的傳染源，可能病毒已有其他的傳染途徑，或是存在病毒的儲存母體，例如野鴨群。」
他也說明，「嚴密的監控和立即控制的手段，生物安全、適當的注射疫苗、檢疫以及加強獸醫服務是成功控制禽流感的關鍵。」
Bird flu outbreaks in 15 countries since December are evidence that the deadly H5N1 viral strain remains a global threat and requires close monitoring and strong controls, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said today. While animal health officials are better prepared to keep the virus under control than they were three years ago, the crisis is not over, a senior FAO official said.
"The virus has not become more contagious to humans but has managed to persist in parts of Asia, Africa and probably Europe. It could still trigger a human influenza pandemic," warned FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech.
Of the 353 human cases of avian flu in 14 countries since 2003, the World Health Organization reports that 221 people have died of the disease.
Bangladesh, Benin, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Myanmar, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Vietnam have confirmed new H5N1 outbreaks in poultry, including chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks.
"The reporting of new outbreaks in poultry, disinfection, culling, movement control and biosecurity on farms and markets remain insufficient and need to be improved. Vaccination campaigns had been generally successful on commercial farms, but not among small-scale producers," Domenech said.
In West Africa, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo have had outbreaks in 2007. There is a serious risk that the virus becomes well established in the region, Domenech warned.
"The detection and immediate response in all countries, especially in the European Union, is very effective," Domenech said. "But we are seeing virus infections in poultry that are not transmitted by wild birds. This raises questions about other ways of virus transmission and potential reservoirs of infection, like in free ranging ducks," he added.
"Surveillance and immediate control interventions, biosecurity, proper vaccination and culling and the strengthening of veterinary services are key elements for successful H5N1 avian influenza control campaigns," Domenech said.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
