At its peak in 2006, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by viruses of the H5N1 subtype was reported in over 60 countries. Since then, most affected countries have eliminated the disease. However, in Bangladesh, the People’s Republic of China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam, the virus has remained entrenched and these countries continue to be endemic for the disease.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in association with national authorities, has developed a framework, based on experiences gained so far in endemically infected countries and covering activities that, if adopted, will help to move each country along the path towards virus elimination. Each framework comprises a mix of measures aimed at outbreak control and responses; gathering and analyzing information from surveillance, disease investigations and other epidemiological studies and market chain studies; and disease prevention and risk reduction.

As the virus is unlikely to be eliminated from poultry for some time the risk of emergence of a human pandemic strain from an avian virus will persist and will need management. The extended time frame until the virus can be eliminated provides opportunities for research into new and innovative measures for the control and prevention of H5N1 HPAI and other influenza viruses. This includes better vaccines that can be delivered easily to poultry production sectors; methods of developing virus resistance in poultry through genetic manipulation and selection; and universal influenza vaccines for humans that protect against different influenza virus subtypes, thus minimizing the threat posed by the virus to human health.

Table of contents




Foreword
Acknowledgements
Acronyms and abbreviations

Executive summary

Introduction

Current H5N1 HPAI status

Viet Nam
Bangladesh and West Bengal (India) – (Indo-Gangetic Plain centred on and around the Ganges Delta)
People’s Republic of China
Indonesia
Egypt
Viruses by Clade
Genotypes

Knowledge generated, lessons learned during the past five years

Constraints to virus control, prevention and elimination

Realistic goals for the next five years

Innovative approaches to meeting goals

References

Annex 1: Country briefs

Viet Nam
Bangladesh
Egypt
Indonesia
The People’s Republic of China

Annex 2: Possible milestones for Viet Nam 2010-2016

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ISBN 978-92-5-106837-3

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