Outbreaks of avian influenza are still occurring in some Asian countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today, stressing the need for continued control campaigns.
Countries affected by the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus are Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
The situation in some countries is still unclear and further epidemiological investigations are required to get the virus under control, the FAO said.
The FAO estimates that about 100 million birds have died or have been culled to battle the disease (Thailand, 36 million; Viet Nam, 36 million; China, 5 million; Pakistan, 4 million; Indonesia, 15 million).
The FAO has sent several disease experts to Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam to assess the local situation and assist countries in their battle against the disease.
Officials from 23 Asia-Pacific countries, international experts, donor and development organizations will meet in Bangkok, 26 to 28 February 2004, for a regional emergency meeting on bird flu to discuss control strategies and rehabilitation measures.
Kilde: FAO
