Mucat - Health authorities are planning to step up surveillance of nesting and wintering sites of migratory and other wild birds, as part of a national strategy to strengthen the country's preparedness in dealing with any avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak.
Officials tasked with formulating a National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan have noted the potential for the avian influenza virus to be carried by migratory birds transiting the Sultanate en route from countries already stricken by bird flu. Oman, it is pointed out, lies on the routes of migratory flyways from Europe.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has already noted the potential risk that avian influenza virus of the subtype H5N1, which is linked to serious bird flu outbreaks in southeast Asia, might be carried along migration routes of wild water birds to densely populated areas in the south Asian subcontinent and along migratory flyways to Africa and Europe.
Recent outbreaks of bird flu in Russia and Kazakhstan point to the potential role of wild birds in the spread of the virus. Consequently, the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which includes Oman, finds itself closer to the current focus of avian influenza than any other region outside AsiaExperts say it is likely that the virus could spread from Siberia to the Caspian and Black Sea area in the foreseeable future.
Some birds currently nesting in the newly affected areas of Novosibirsk and Altai in Russia are expected to migrate to these areas for upcoming winter or land to rest areas on their way to Africa and Europe. Bird migration routes run across some Mediterranean countries, where bird flu outbreaks could possibly occur.
Mongolia also reported the death of some 90 migratory birds in the northern part of the country in early August 2005. From April to June, 2005 more than 6,000 migratory birds have been reported to have died due to H5N1 infection at the Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve in China. In Tibet, the death of 133 breeding hens was reported and H5N1 was isolated from samples from these birds.
Part of the potential risk also stems from the Sultanate's geographic proximity to India and Bangladesh, which currently have no indication of disease, but are at risk. Bangladesh in particular, and to a lesser extent India, harbour large numbers of domestic ducks and the countries are situated along one of the major migratory routes. The countries have the potential to become new large endemic foci of avian influenza H5N1 infection.
International health bodies have stressed the importance of intensifying surveillance of both domestic poultry and wild birds in countries along migrating bird routes. The FAO and the International Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have prepared a global strategy for the prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Experts have stressed the need to strengthen the joint FAO/OIE/WHO Global Early Warning System (GLEWS) so as to improve the regional capacity for early detection and response to bird flu incursions.
Given the looming global threat of bird flu, the National Zoonotic Committee, comprising members of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, met recently to consider a joint response. Both ministries will be working closely to combat any importation of the virus.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has initiated measures to combat possible importation of bird flu into the country. Imports of poultry and birds from countries hit by avian influenza have been banned. Earlier this month, the ministry halted imports of live poultry and birds, as well unprocessed poultry meat and eggs, from Russia and Kazakhstan.
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2005
