In 2003, the highly pathogenic H5N1 form of Avian Influenza was first detected in South East Asia. Since then the virus has been spreading first throughout Asia arriving in Europe, Africa and the Middle East in early 2006. The animal health industry has an important role to play in helping to combat this disease by supplying vaccines that protect birds against the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus and products to control disease vectors. There is no one single solution to successfully combat Avian Influenza, instead a combination of three types of measures are being used in conjunction with each other: 1) biosecurity and surveillance activities, 2) "stamping out" or culling of infected birds and 3) preventative and/or emergency vaccination of birds.
The International Federation of Animal Health (www.ifahsec.org) has produced a set of Frequently Asked Questions designed to answer the common questions that surround Avian Influenza. Links to the questions, and additional sources of information are below:
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