The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging Pacific countries to prepare for avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, which is spreading among birds in the Pacific.
According to the WHO, more countries in the Asia-Pacific are dealing with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in animals. The concern is that the virus could spill over from animals to humans.
WHO said recent detections of H5N1 in Australia and New Zealand have highlighted the threat to the wider Pacific.
“Although influenza surveillance is one of the world’s oldest and most mature disease surveillance systems, the recent HPAI A(H5N1) arrival in Australia and New Zealand is a sharp reminder that vigilance cannot lapse,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific.
“Effective One Health coordination - linking human, animal and environmental health authorities - is essential to detecting, characterising and acting on zoonotic threats quickly enough to protect both public health and livelihoods."
