UN agency warns of new global bird flu threatJanuary 29th, 2013
in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes The UN food agency on Tuesday
warned the world risked a surge in bird flu outbreaks unless
countries strengthen their monitoring against dangerous animal
diseases despite economic hardship. "The continuing
international economic downturn means less money is available
for prevention of H5N1 bird flu and other threats of animal
origin," Juan Lubroth, chief veterinary officer at the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said in a statement. "Even
though everyone knows that prevention is better than cure, I am
worried because in the current climate governments are unable to
keep up their guard," he was quoted as saying. The Rome-based
agency warned large reservoirs of the H5N1 virus still exist in
parts of Asia and the Middle East where the disease has become
endemic. "Without adequate controls, it could easily spread
globally as it did at its peak in 2006, when 63 countries were
affected," the agency said. The v