The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
has once again raised an alarm over the increasing human cases of influenze A
(H7N9) in Southern and Eastern China, reports NaijaAgroNet.
According to FAO official statement made
available to NaijaAgroNet and
endorsed by FAO Chief Veterinary Officer, Juan Lubroth, human infections with
the influenza A (H7N9) virus are on the rise again in China and the upcoming
Chinese New Year festivities provide opportunity for further spread and human
exposure.
“Millions of people and poultry are expected
to be on the move and many households will slaughter poultry at home to
celebrate the New Year. FAO called upon neighboring countries to remain
vigilant in the face of A (H7N9) and other avian influenza viruses, such as
highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1,” part of the statement read.
Also, FAO said that the number of human
infections with H7N9 has considerably increased since late December in East and
Southeast China, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Equally, they said that the increase in cases
was expected, as influenza viruses traditionally show increased activity during
the winter months. So far, no other country has reported influenza A (H7N9) in
humans, animals or in the market place.
“There is strong evidence that people become
infected following close contact with infected live poultry, mostly in live
bird markets or when slaughtering birds at home. According to WHO, no sustained
human-to-human transmission has occurred so far. Genetic analysis by FAO
reference centers has revealed that the virus has not changed significantly
since its emergence last year,” FAO officials said.
Lubroth further said that Chinese authorities
are enforcing important measures to reduce the risk of human exposure to the A
(H7N9) virus.
"This includes temporary closures of live bird markets, regular market rest days, improved hygiene in markets, heightened and ongoing surveillance in poultry and live bird market environment, and control of poultry movements," Lubroth advised.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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Pix: FAO DG, Da Silvia