Tuesday, August 30, 2011

FAO urges awareness of possible bird flu resurgence

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is urging heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible resurgence of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on signs that a mutant strain of the virus may be spreading through Asia.
The latest death occurred in early August in Cambodia, the eighth in the country attributed to the strain in 2011. Other recently affected areas have been found in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Bulgaria, Romania, Nepal and Mongolia. A variant virus in China and Vietnam appears to be able to sidestep defenses provided by existing vaccines, according to the FAO, and preparedness and surveillance remain essential.

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