標題: Latin America faces unprecedented bird flu outbreak [打印本頁] 作者: hellojoy12 時間: 2024-3-12 15:08 標題: Latin America faces unprecedented bird flu outbreak
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an epidemiological update on the avian flu outbreaks in Latin America. At least 15 countries in the region reported the presence of the HPAI A(H5N1) virus simultaneously. The organizations assured that in Latin America there had not been such a proliferation of influenza in birds and mammals since the situation was monitored worldwide.
From November 2021 to August 2023, avian flu was spotted by health auth Phone Number List orities in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. According to case monitoring, transmission of the HPAI A(H5N1) strain occurs to a greater extent in the Pacific migratory route.
The fifteen countries mentioned had infected wild birds and half of them reported infections in farm birds and backyard birds. Cases of contagion in mammals appeared in only five nations, where red foxes, skunks and sea lions became ill. The continuous advance of the virus in other species is the main indicator of alarm for health authorities.
The PAHO report outlines the route of avian flu in the Region of the Americas. The infections are indicated in red...
The PAHO report outlines the route of avian flu in the Region of the Americas. Human infections are indicated in red. (Photo: PAHO)
In the three years of continuous monitoring, three events were reported where the virus infected a human. The United States, Ecuador and Chile were faced with patients of different ages and with unrelated health conditions. In each infection, the person with bird flu required hospitalization and assisted breathing, but they survived. On average, the A(H5N1) virus in humans has a mortality rate of 50%, although the percentage may vary depending on the strain analyzed.
At the moment, the virus has not mutated so that it can be spread from human to human. There is no evidence to indicate otherwise. Cases reported around the world show that bird flu is spread primarily from animal to person, in poultry farms and commercial poultry facilities. Handling bird carcasses, plucking, and direct or indirect contact with contaminated feces are high risk factors.
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"Countries are urged to work collaboratively and multisectorally to preserve
animal health and protect human health. It is essential that preventive measures
against avian influenza be implemented at its source, detection, notification and response protocols established
rapid response to outbreaks in animals, strengthen surveillance of influenza in both animals and
humans, carry out epidemiological and virological investigations in relation to outbreaks
in animals and human infections, share genetic information on viruses,
promote collaboration between the areas of animal and human health,
the risk is effectively communicated and preparation for a possible influenza pandemic is guaranteed at all
levels,” PAHO recommended.
As part of the activities to mitigate the infection in more countries on the continent, PAHO trains Latin American countries in the management of infected birds in emergency cases of avian flu. The last of them, in July 2023, was implemented with official veterinary services personnel from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, El Salvador and Uruguay. According to the official statement , government personnel were trained in methodologies related to biosecurity, depopulation, composting and decontamination.
