International organisations are rallying round China
in reinforcing control amid outbreak of avian influenza, reports NaijaAgroNet.
Experts
also said that a resurgent outbreak of a new strain of avian influenza that
could be lethal
for humans underscores the need for robust and rapid detection
and response systems at animal source.
NaijaAgroNet
also reports that this could
reduce the risk associated with virus spread and impacts on public health,
according to Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organisation for
Animal Health.
Equally, NaijaAgroNet
reports that human cases of
the H7N9 virus, first detected in China four years ago, have suddenly increased
since December 2016 and it is estimated, that as of early March 2017, there
have been more reported human cases of influenza A (H7N9) than those caused by
other types of avian influenza viruses (H5N1, H5N6, etc.) combined.
As
during previous waves, most of the patients infected reported a history of
visiting live bird markets or coming into contact with infected birds. Since
2013, China has invested heavily in surveillance of live bird markets and
poultry farms. However the surveillance of this virus has proven particularly
challenging as until recently it has shown no or few signs of disease in
chickens.
"Considering
the potential for mutation of avian influenza virus, constant surveillance by
national Veterinary Services of the different strains circulating in animals in
their country is essential to protect both animal and human health",
explains Matthew Stone, Deputy Director General of the OIE.
"To
protect human health and people's livelihoods, it is essential to tackle the
disease at its source in poultry: efforts need to target eliminating H7N9 from
affected farms and markets," said Vincent Martin, FAO's Representative in
China.
"Targeted
surveillance to detect the disease and clean infected farms and live bird
markets, intervening at critical points along the poultry value chain - from
farm to table - is required. There should be incentives for everybody involved
in poultry production and marketing to enforce disease control."
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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