There has been no report of new case of human
infection of avian influenza (H5N1) since early October.
The last confirmed case of human infection of avian influenza
(H5N1) was reported in Thailand on October 4. As of December
17, there were a total of 44 confirmed human cases leading
to 32 deaths reported in Thailand and Vietnam this year.
Hong Kong confirmed on 13 December that a dead grey heron
(a migratory bird) had tested H5N1 positive. Grey heron
is an abundant winter visitor to Hong Kong but not a resident
species. All poultry farms within 5 kilometers where the
heron was found have been checked and no unusual mortality
or illness detected.
Outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry continue to be
reported in Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Since October
29, there were 207 outbreaks reported with 12,000 birds
dead and 180,000 birds destroyed. On November 26, Malaysian
authority reported H5N1 infections in chickens in Tumpat
district, State of Kelantan. Culling of susceptible birds
and disinfection were undertaken in a village within a 10-km
radius of the index outbreak as precautionary measures.
In Vietnam, there was 1 poultry outbreak reported in Can
Tho City, Mekong River Delta Region in late November. 17
birds died and 3 birds had been destroyed.
On November 25 to 26, the World Health Organization (WHO)
called for a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand to bring together
Health Ministers and senior health officials from 13 Asian-Pacific
countries including China in an attempt to intensify cooperation
to warding off the growing threat of influenza pandemic
that could cause global harm. The delegates announced in
a joint closing statement to work together on all aspects
of avian influenza, including prompt and transparent sharing
of information, research work and assuring adequate resources
to take on the challenges posed by the outbreak. They also
pledged to prepare contingency plans to deal with any influenza
pandemic.
On December 8, WHO warned that influenza A/H5N1 has the
potential to ignite the next pandemic. WHO estimated that,
even in the best case scenarios of the next pandemic, 2
to 7 million people would die and tens of millions would
require medical attention. Deaths could be dramatically
higher if the next pandemic virus is a very virulent strain.
WHO has urged all countries to develop or update their influenza
pandemic preparedness plans for responding to the widespread
socioeconomic disruptions that would result from having
large numbers of people unwell or dying.
The Centre for Health Protection will continue to liaise
with WHO and authorities in affected countries for further
information and will inform the public of any important
updates.
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