Poor vet services stifle control of avian influenza, expert

12 July 2007

By MESHA Correspondent

Flaws in national veterinary services in developing countries stifle control of avian influenza outbreaks, a leading scientist has said.

Dr Bernard Vallat, Director General of the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said that the current epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza remains a major global concern.

Addressing guests at CSIRO Livestock Industries' Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, noted that capacity building and improvement of veterinary services and infrastructures lacks in more than 100 countries, not only for the current avian influenza crisis but for all future emerging and re-emerging diseases linked with globalisation and climatic changes.

"The current highly pathogenic H5N1 strain with its rapid spread over continents and its pandemic potential has led to a global influenza crisis," Dr Vallat said. "Although the majority of countries infected in 2006 succeeded in eradicating the disease, the situation in some countries remains very worrisome."

Dr Vallat also discussed the OIE's recommendations to eradicate at the animal source and implement a number of principles including early detection, rapid confirmation of suspects, rapid and transparent notification and the use of vaccination when appropriate.

"We also recommend rapid response involving increase in biosecurity, containment, disinfections and culling of infected animals," he said.

AAHL maintains Australia's capacity for rapid and accurate diagnosis of avian influenza in Australian poultry and birds as well as maintaining a laboratory testing surge capacity. AAHL is also internationally recognised as an OIE regional reference laboratory for highly pathogenic avian influenza.