Research that works for developing countries and AustraliaAsian Bird FluThe Australian Government, through the involvement of ACIAR and AusAID is helping to combat the spread of the Avian Influenza (“Bird flu”) virus. Outbreaks of the disease amongst poultry have been confirmed in Cambodia, China including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Accurate surveillance and diagnosis, a major control strategy, is not readily available in many Asian countries. Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia do not have in-country capacity for confirmation of diagnosis of Avian Influenza. The diagnosis of the Avian Influenza has also been difficult due to the similarity of the clinical symptoms to two other diseases affecting poultry: Fowl Cholera and acute Newcastle Disease. ACIAR is providing limited support by reorientating the focus of existing projects on poultry and livestock in Indonesia and Laos to help diagnose the current outbreak. ACIAR has provided support to Indonesia since December 2003 by “re-orienting” existing projects seeking to develop and produce vaccines against other poultry diseases prevalent in Indonesia, to help in the diagnosis of Avian Influenza. Similarly, in Laos assistance has been given for the monitoring of Avian Influenza control procedures by an ACIAR project focusing on livestock diseases in village production systems. The project leader for the Laos project, Dr Gleeson, has been invited to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome to plan and begin design of a Technical Cooperation Project to be located in Bangkok. Dr Gleeson will continue this work in Bangkok to design, with other scientists including ex- ACIAR Research Program Manager, Dr Hoffmann, the implementation of the project. The FAO project will cost $1.6m and aim to develop cooperation between affected countries during the acute phase of the disease. Through AusAID up to $1 million is being provided to regional organisations to help meet their immediate needs in combating the outbreak. Up to $500,000 is being provided to the World Health Organisation to use Australian expertise in epidemiology, laboratory, animal health, virology and public health in the affected areas. The remainder of the $1 million package will be released over time according to emerging needs. ACIAR is also involved in the AusAID task force on Avian Influenza, providing technical and other support as needed. The current Avian Influenza strain, H5N1, is highly pathogenic for poultry, but less so for wild and aquatic birds, and has low transmission rates to humans. Transmission is via faeces from infected birds. The current control strategy is mass slaughter which is being practised in several countries. Vaccine options are now being considered. The World Health Organisation believes the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza is a threat to public health if it circulates long enough in humans and farm animals. The level of risk that this strain may evolve into an influenza strain which could cause widespread disease increases over time. Information on Avian Influenza: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
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