FAO Warns of Return of Bird Flu

In the last few days, the FAO has urged countries to increase their level of preparedness and surveillance of a new variant of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

FAO is urging heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 HPAI amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly bird flu virus is spreading in Asia and beyond, with unpredictable risks to human health.

The H5N1 virus has infected 565 people since it first appeared in 2003, killing 331 of them, according to WHO figures. The latest death occurred earlier this month in Cambodia, which has registered eight cases of human infection this year – all of them fatal.

Since 2003, H5N1 has killed or forced the culling of more than 400 million domestic poultry and caused an estimated US$20 billion of economic damage across the globe before it was eliminated from most of the 63 countries infected at its peak in 2006.

However, the virus has remained endemic in six nations, although the number of outbreaks in domestic poultry and wild bird populations shrank steadily from an annual peak of 4,000 to just 302 in mid-2008. But outbreaks have risen progressively since, with almost 800 cases recorded in 2010-2011.

WHO and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are downplaying the importance of the new H5N1 variant. In a statement, OIE said: "The emergence of the H5N1 virus, such as clade 2.3.2.1 is one of such genetic mutations taking place as part of the natural evolution of the virus. This is not immediate cause for alert." The organisation did, however, add that this new development strengthens the need for close monitoring of viruses in the animal population.

On a different health issue, a new investigation has revealed flaws in the egg safety inspection system in Iowa, which was at the centre of a major food safety recall last year.

And finally, we start the new series of Global Poultry Trends, exclusive to ThePoultrySite and by seasoned industry watcher, Terry Evans. This week's article covers the trends in chicken meat production in the Americas.