Avian Influenza and Food Safety: Statement by Dr LEE Jong-Wook, WHO Director-General

Avian Influenza and Food Safety: Statement by Dr LEE Jong-Wook, WHO Director-General

February 28, 2006

    BEIJING and GENEVA, Feb. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Since the beginning of February 2006, the highly pathogenic
H5N1 avian influenza virus has spread to affect wild or
domestic birds in 17 new countries in Africa, Asia, Europe,
and the Middle East.

    (Logo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040610/CNTH001LOGO )

    The World Health Organization reconfirms that, when
poultry products are safely handled and properly cooked,
humans are not at risk of acquiring H5N1 
infection through food. 

    Although the H5N1 virus is highly infectious among
poultry, it is not easily transmissible to humans. Since
December 2003, this virus is known to have infected 173
people, of whom 93 have died.  Not one of these cases has
been linked to the consumption of properly cooked poultry
or poultry products. 

    The main health risk currently is to people who are in
close contact with infected poultry, such as families with
backyard flocks and poultry workers in 
wet markets or live animal markets. 

    Heightened surveillance among domestic and wild birds,
rapid detection of the virus, and swift implementation of
control measures are important in 
supporting and maintaining consumer confidence in the
safety of poultry products.

    Globally, the evidence demonstrates that there is no
risk of infection when birds and eggs are well-cooked, as
this kills the virus.  Poultry products are important
sources of protein throughout the world. 
 
    Avian Influenza -- Situation in China -- Update 5
    27 February 2006
  
    The Ministry of Health in China has reported two
additional laboratory confirmed cases of human infection
with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.  Both 
patients are in critical conditions.

    The first patient is a 9-year-old girl from the eastern
province of Zhejiang.  She developed symptoms on 10
February. Symptom onset followed a visit to relatives in
the adjacent province of Anhui.  No animal outbreaks have
been reported in Zhejiang Province since 2004.

    The second patient is a 26-year-old female farmer from
Anhui Province.  She developed symptoms on 11 February
following contact with diseased poultry. 
Local agricultural officials have reported isolation of the
H5N1 virus in samples from dead poultry in her
neighbourhood.

    To date, China has reported 14 laboratory-confirmed
cases.  Of these, eight have been fatal.

    The H5N1 virus is now considered to be endemic in birds
in large parts of China.  WHO is working with national
authorities to increase public awareness of the disease,
encourage populations to report outbreaks, and warn people
to avoid contact with dead or ill birds.

    Avian Influenza -- Situation in Indonesia -- Update 5
    27 February 2006
  
    The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed an
additional case of human infection with the H5N1 avian
influenza virus.  The case, which was fatal, occurred in a
27-year-old woman from West Java Province.  She developed
symptoms on 13 February and died on 20 February.

    Investigations carried out by local authorities found
reports of chicken deaths in the woman's neighbourhood four
days prior to her onset of 
symptoms.

    The newly confirmed case brings the total in Indonesia
to 27.  Of these, 20 were fatal.

    Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian
Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO
  
    27 February 2006

     Country      2003         2004         2005       
2006         Total                 
              cases deaths cases deaths cases deaths cases
deaths cases deaths                  
     Cambodia   0     0      0     0      4     4      0   
 0      4      4                 
     China      0     0      0     0      8     5      6   
 3     14      8                 
     Indonesia  0     0      0     0     17    11     10   
 9     27     20                 
     Iraq       0     0      0     0      0     0      1   
 1      1      1                 
     Thailand   0     0     17    12      5     2      0   
 0     22     14                 
     Turkey     0     0      0     0      0     0     12   
 4     12      4                 
     Viet Nam   3     3     29    20     61    19      0   
 0     93     42                 
      Total     3     3     46    32     95    41     29   
17    173     93                 

     Total number of cases includes number of deaths.
     WHO reports only laboratory-confirmed cases.


    For further information, please contact:
 
     Aphaluck Bhatiasevi,
     Communications Officer,
     World Health Organization (China),
      401, Dongwai Diplomatic Office Building, 
      23 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, 
      Beijing 100600, 
      People's Republic of China 
     Mobile: [phone] 
     Tel:    [phone] 
     Fax:    [phone] 
     Email:  [e-mail] 

SOURCE  World Health Organization