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58865
Mon, 05/04/2009 - 17:42
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https://oananews.org//node/58865
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implications of the influenza a type h1n1 virus for the 2 million pigs in laos
implications of the influenza a type h1n1 virus for the 2 million pigs in laos
(KPL) During the emergency, joint response meeting called on 28 April by National Avian and Human Influenza Coordinating Office, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advised the Department of Livestock and Fisheries to maintain a high level of vigilance and gather epidemiological information on any unusual influenza-like respiratory diseases in pigs.
According to the FAO office in Vientiane, the current H1N1 influenza virus that is causing illness among humans in the USA and some other countries, and a worrisome number of human deaths in Mexico, is a new reassortant (mix) of different influenza strains. So far, pigs do not appear to be the immediate source of the current crisis and all indications point towards human-to-human transmission and infection.
“There is also no evidence of a threat to the food chain; at this stage it is clearly a human health crisis and not an animal crisis, but we have to be alert and prepared,” said Dr. Ricarda Mondry, Chief Technical Adviser of the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in Laos..
It is estimated that there are 2,125,000 pigs in Laos. FAO is currently already supporting Refresher Training for Village Veterinary Workers on avian influenza as well as pig diseases, including respiratory diseases, in eight districts of three provinces.
National Consultants have been already been informed of the current and globally evolving situation, to be able to advise provincial and district livestock staff adequately.
“FAO recognizes that raising pigs is an important source of income for backyard farmers and increasingly for small scale commercial farmers in Laos.
The current global attention and focus on influenza viruses provides a teachable moment for renewed focus on ensuring the highest standards of health for all livestock, particularly pigs“.
“Farmers should feed pigs well and especially include adequate levels of protein and fat, which assures that the pigs grow well and enhances their ability to resist infectious diseases. Pigs should also be fed only well cooked food especially if their main diet consists of household waste, “adds Dr. Mondry.
“If free-roaming pigs get sick, they should be penned to avoid further spread of any disease to other pigs. This is advisable for all infectious diseases among animals.
“Pork meat and meat products is safe for consumption. As usual of course, no sick or dead animals should be slaughtered or eaten. “
Pigs infected with the usual Swine Influenza viruses typically present symptoms that include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, fever, and breathing difficulty. Reproductive problems such as abortion can also be found. While all swine in a herd might become sick, the mortality rates in pigs are generally low. The virus is transmitted through nasal discharges and aerosols created by coughing or sneezing.
The spread of the virus in the pig population is controlled through movement control and biosecurity measures.
FAO is globally mobilizing its teams of experts to help confirm that the current new strain of H1N1 has no direct connection to pigs, increase pig surveillance and maintain response readiness should the new virus become introduced into the pig population.
FAO is also deploying a team of experts from the FAO-OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) Crisis Management Centre Animal Health to Mexico this week, to help the government assess the epidemiologic situation in the pig production sector.
(KPL) During the emergency, joint response meeting called on 28 April by National Avian and Human Influenza Coordinating Office, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advised the Department of Livestock and Fisheries to maintain a high level of vigilance and gather epidemiological information on any unusual influenza-like respiratory diseases in pigs.
According to the FAO office in Vientiane, the current H1N1 influenza virus that is causing illness among humans in the USA and some other countries, and a worrisome number of human deaths in Mexico, is a new reassortant (mix) of different influenza strains. So far, pigs do not appear to be the immediate source of the current crisis and all indications point towards human-to-human transmission and infection.
“There is also no evidence of a threat to the food chain; at this stage it is clearly a human health crisis and not an animal crisis, but we have to be alert and prepared,” said Dr. Ricarda Mondry, Chief Technical Adviser of the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in Laos..
It is estimated that there are 2,125,000 pigs in Laos. FAO is currently already supporting Refresher Training for Village Veterinary Workers on avian influenza as well as pig diseases, including respiratory diseases, in eight districts of three provinces.
National Consultants have been already been informed of the current and globally evolving situation, to be able to advise provincial and district livestock staff adequately.
“FAO recognizes that raising pigs is an important source of income for backyard farmers and increasingly for small scale commercial farmers in Laos.
The current global attention and focus on influenza viruses provides a teachable moment for renewed focus on ensuring the highest standards of health for all livestock, particularly pigs“.
“Farmers should feed pigs well and especially include adequate levels of protein and fat, which assures that the pigs grow well and enhances their ability to resist infectious diseases. Pigs should also be fed only well cooked food especially if their main diet consists of household waste, “adds Dr. Mondry.
“If free-roaming pigs get sick, they should be penned to avoid further spread of any disease to other pigs. This is advisable for all infectious diseases among animals.
“Pork meat and meat products is safe for consumption. As usual of course, no sick or dead animals should be slaughtered or eaten. “
Pigs infected with the usual Swine Influenza viruses typically present symptoms that include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, fever, and breathing difficulty. Reproductive problems such as abortion can also be found. While all swine in a herd might become sick, the mortality rates in pigs are generally low. The virus is transmitted through nasal discharges and aerosols created by coughing or sneezing.
The spread of the virus in the pig population is controlled through movement control and biosecurity measures.
FAO is globally mobilizing its teams of experts to help confirm that the current new strain of H1N1 has no direct connection to pigs, increase pig surveillance and maintain response readiness should the new virus become introduced into the pig population.
FAO is also deploying a team of experts from the FAO-OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) Crisis Management Centre Animal Health to Mexico this week, to help the government assess the epidemiologic situation in the pig production sector.
