[afro-nets] Avian Flu in Africa - Preparedness issues need revisiting

[A. Odutola <chpss_abo2@yahoo.com>]

Avian Flu in Africa: Preparedness issues need revisiting
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Source: Solomon Sackitey
Sub-Editor, Avian flu Alert
Datelinehealth-Africa News Service, 01/12/06

On 06 November 2005, Datelinehealth-Africa (DLHA) News Service
published a comprehensive resource for Africa's preparedness in
advance of the global threat of Avian influenza virus (H5N1,
bird flu) spreading to Africa. See:
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/infocus/detailinfocus.asp?infocus_id=174

On 08 February 2006, this menacing virus was detected on poultry
farms in Nigeria. There have been various reports about this
case being the first such H5N1 infection in Africa. The number
of poultry affected varied sharply depending on the source of
the report and ranged from 40,000 to not fewer than 200,000
poultry dead. See:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51617&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=NIGERIA

Despite the discrepancies in the severity of the H5N1 infection
in Nigeria, one fact stands out clearly; H5N1 is now in Africa
and chances of a possible devastation across Africa are very
high.

It is against this background that critical attention is being
called again at the highest level of policy in African nations
for revisiting preparedness issues through detailing of the con-
tinent's specific institutions available for technical consulta-
tion and information support. The World Health Organization
(WHO) has provided a list of National Centers for Avian Influ-
enza in various parts of the world in preparation for a possible
global bird flu pandemic. A select list of WHO National Avian
influenza centers in Africa as well as a list of Dele-
gates/Member States from Africa in the World Organisation for
Animal Health (OIE) is presented at
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/infocus/detailinfocus.asp?infocus_id=186

For more comprehensive news, alerts, science, public health and
other resources on the Avian flu from an African perspective,
visit:
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/BetaV1.0/avian_influenza/avian_influenza.asp


A. Odutola
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies
34 Town Planning Way, Ilupeju
P.O. Box 7597, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel. +234-1-470-1255
Fax: +234-1-263-5285
mailto:chpss_abo2@yahoo.com