CAIRO: Egypt is listed as one of five countries where the H5N1 virus, or avian influenza, still persists, said a statement by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The H5N1 virus has been combated in 135 countries while an outbreak remains a threat in Egypt, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam. Unfortunately, H5N1 may have slipped off the radar screen for some people, but it continues to be a major problem, especially in Egypt and parts of Asia, where it is having a huge impact on food security and the livelihoods of farmers and local communities, said Juan Lubroth, FAO s chief veterinary officer. Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam reported bird flu outbreaks resulting in the deaths of thousands of birds thus far while Egypt reported more human cases. Poor farm biosecurity and trading of infected poultry are the main causes of the disease spread, according to the FAO. Last Sunday, Egypt's Ministry of Health announced the 34th bird flu-related death in the country; an 18-year-old woman from Fayoum. The number of bird flu cases witnessed a hike in 2010; the 18-year-old is the seventh reported this year. A total of 109 cases have been reported since the virus first appeared in Egypt in 2006. This came one week after Minister of Health Hatem El-Gabaly lauded the success of the government's plan in combating bird flu (H1N5), explaining that the death rate from the virus has substantially decreased while citizens' awareness has increased. "The government has been dealing with the issue with complete transparency and sincerity, as well as a commitment to giving the highest quality treatments at hospitals, the minister told the People's Assembly. Egypt's H1N5 death rate stands at 6.3 percent, lower than the global rate of 7.61 percent, the ministry said in a statement last week. This month, on April 19, the Seventh International Ministerial Conference on 'Animal and Pandemic Influenza: The Way Forward' will be held in Vietnam with over 700 attendees including Ministers of Agriculture and Health from over 100 countries, and leaders from a range of regional and international organizations. The event is organized by the Government of Vietnam in coordination with the European Union and the United States of America, with the support of the UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC), FAO, the World Organization for Animal Health and the World Health Organization, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank. As part of the conference's agenda, "[We] will assess global progress in controlling Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (caused by the virus H5N1) and propose a series of next steps to further reduce and potentially eradicate this serious threat, said Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cao Duc Phat.
