International summit on bird flu amid rising fears of pandemic
John Ross
The Scotsman
Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:01 EDT
An International summit on bird flu opens in Scotland today, amid growing fears that the deadly virus could cause a pandemic.
About 30 experts from 15 countries will gather in Aviemore for the two-day event following a similar meeting in Nairobi last year.
It has been organised by the Avian Flu Task Force under the United Nations' international convention on migratory species, and includes delegates from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.
They will review outbreaks of avian flu around the world, which have led to the deaths of 191 people since 2003, and examine issues including the surveillance of wild birds in relation to the disease.
Delegates will also discuss contingency planning and response strategies for outbreaks and what information is needed to understand potential infection routes and further local spread.
Professor Colin Galbraith, director of policy and advice at Scottish Natural Heritage, who is a member of the task force, said: "Bird flu is one of the biggest international challenges that exists today. It knows no boundaries. Scientists across the world must work together to understand the nature of the disease and to contain any outbreaks.
"It is crucial there is ongoing contact between countries and we share and learn from each other. The range of delegates and countries represented is a reflection of the seriousness of this issue across the world.
"In Scotland, we have a valuable contribution to make in terms of our contingency planning and in relation to the monitoring of wild birds."
More than 300 people worldwide have been affected by the avian flu virus, with 191 deaths since its discovery in Asian poultry stocks in 2003.
To date, there have been three confirmed cases of bird flu in Britain. In February, 159,000 birds were slaughtered on a Suffolk farm belonging to Bernard Matthews after the H5N1 virus was discovered. In April 2006, a dead swan was found on the slipway of the harbour at Cellardyke in Fife.
The death of 15 chickens on a farm in Conwy, North Wales in May, was caused by a less virulent strain of avian flu -H7N2.
Last week, a four-year-old boy in Cairo tested positive for bird flu, bringing to 37 the number of people in Egypt infected with the virus, including 15 who died.
Most of the fatalities have been women or girls whose families raise poultry and who had daily contact with chickens or turkeys.
Egypt is one of the countries most affected by the H5N1 strain outside Asia as it lies on a main route for migratory birds, which are believed to have brought the disease.
The Czech Republic's first case of bird flu in poultry was reported in Prague last week; about 1,800 turkeys died in the outbreak. Until now, bird flu has been detected there only in wild swans.
Earlier this year, three outbreaks occurred near Moscow.
lINK
The Scotsman
Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:01 EDT
An International summit on bird flu opens in Scotland today, amid growing fears that the deadly virus could cause a pandemic.
About 30 experts from 15 countries will gather in Aviemore for the two-day event following a similar meeting in Nairobi last year.
It has been organised by the Avian Flu Task Force under the United Nations' international convention on migratory species, and includes delegates from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.
They will review outbreaks of avian flu around the world, which have led to the deaths of 191 people since 2003, and examine issues including the surveillance of wild birds in relation to the disease.
Delegates will also discuss contingency planning and response strategies for outbreaks and what information is needed to understand potential infection routes and further local spread.
Professor Colin Galbraith, director of policy and advice at Scottish Natural Heritage, who is a member of the task force, said: "Bird flu is one of the biggest international challenges that exists today. It knows no boundaries. Scientists across the world must work together to understand the nature of the disease and to contain any outbreaks.
"It is crucial there is ongoing contact between countries and we share and learn from each other. The range of delegates and countries represented is a reflection of the seriousness of this issue across the world.
"In Scotland, we have a valuable contribution to make in terms of our contingency planning and in relation to the monitoring of wild birds."
More than 300 people worldwide have been affected by the avian flu virus, with 191 deaths since its discovery in Asian poultry stocks in 2003.
To date, there have been three confirmed cases of bird flu in Britain. In February, 159,000 birds were slaughtered on a Suffolk farm belonging to Bernard Matthews after the H5N1 virus was discovered. In April 2006, a dead swan was found on the slipway of the harbour at Cellardyke in Fife.
The death of 15 chickens on a farm in Conwy, North Wales in May, was caused by a less virulent strain of avian flu -H7N2.
Last week, a four-year-old boy in Cairo tested positive for bird flu, bringing to 37 the number of people in Egypt infected with the virus, including 15 who died.
Most of the fatalities have been women or girls whose families raise poultry and who had daily contact with chickens or turkeys.
Egypt is one of the countries most affected by the H5N1 strain outside Asia as it lies on a main route for migratory birds, which are believed to have brought the disease.
The Czech Republic's first case of bird flu in poultry was reported in Prague last week; about 1,800 turkeys died in the outbreak. Until now, bird flu has been detected there only in wild swans.
Earlier this year, three outbreaks occurred near Moscow.
lINK
Labels: international +summit+bird+flu+rising+fears+of+pandemic
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