Avian Influenza and Tajikistan

1. Avian Influenza and Tajikistan FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

2. Avian Influenza in Tajikistan • Background • Risks of Avian Influenza introduction in Tajikistan • Mitigating risks of introducing and spreading Avian Influenza virus • Risks of Avian Influenza to humans from poultry products in Tajikistan • Measures taken by FAO and SVD FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

3. Background (1) • Various species of animals have their “own” strain of influenza virus, including birds and humans • Some strains are able to infect several species, but can normally not spread between individuals of these “foreign” species • Avian influenza viruses have historically on several occasions mutated and acquired the ability of human-human spread • Such viruses caused three major influenza pandemics during the last century, in 1918 (Spanish flu), 1957 (Asian flu) and 1968 (Hong Kong flu). FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

4. Background (2) • The H5N1 AI virus have been circulating in poultry since at least 1996 • Initially infectivity not very high, causing limited disease • For last 3 years, found in wild migratory birds • N. & SE Asia & Indonesia - wild birds started epidemic, spread through live-bird market chain FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

7. Next steps in Tajikistan - Preparedness • Evaluate the potential transmission paths - wild migratory birds contact points wild migratory birds – domestic poultry cross border live bird imports smuggled live birds live bird markets • Targeted surveillance at high risk points • Diagnosis of suspect AI cases • Send AI virus isolates to international reference labs for gene characterization FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

8. Next steps in Tajikistan - Prevention • Enhance biosecurity in commercial & small-holder poultry farms • Separate wild migratory birds from domestic poultry • Enforce hygiene in live bird markets – separate areas for different bird species do not return unsold live birds to farms clean & dry cages, floors, counters, etc • Raiseawareness for reporting deaths or disease in poultry & wild birds to SVD • SVD write & practice Standard Operating Procedures for AI disease investigation FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

9. Next steps in Tajikistan - Reaction • Control outbreak zones by: halting movement of poultry limiting movement of people, good hygiene quarantine domestic birds within gardens stamp out infected & in-contact poultry pay compensation for destroyed poultry clean & depopulate infected zone - 60 days live bird markets – closed temporarily or close 1 day per week for cleaning • Consider vaccinating poultry at risk FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

10. Summary of Control Strategies • Control by stamping out works in countries with small outbreaks + high surveillance • Vaccination enhances success of control & potentially reduces risk to humans • Need targeted surveillance based on expected transmission pathways in Tajikistan • Manage risks in each production system – smallholder poultry commercial poultry domestic poultry FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

11. Risks of Avian Influenza to humans from poultry products in Tajikistan • Consuming poultry meat and eggs frozen meat & clean egg shells = no risk normal cooked meat & eggs = no risk • Handling or preparing poultry products fresh poultry meat = wash hands, knives & counters with soap and hot water feathers, poultry house dust = low risk poultry manure dust = low risk • Buying live poultry in markets aerosols in markets = low risk FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

12. High Risk Activities to Avoid • Higher risk when AI has been diagnosed in the area - not the case for Tajikistan! • Direct contact with AI infected birds - attending cock fights - buying from crowded, live bird markets - drinking blood from birds FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

13. Measures taken by FAO and SVD (1) Actions targeting veterinarians: • One national seminar and a serious of regional workshops on Transboundary Animal Diseases (TAD) • Training courses on bird diseases • Training course on virology for laboratory veterinarians • FAO and SVD staff attending workshop in Pakistan on Participatory Diseases Surveillance (PDS) • PDS carried out in RRD, planned for Sugd • Next edition of National Veterinary Magazine totally devoted to TAD, including article on how to recognize, and handle, cases of AI FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

14. Measures taken by FAO and SVD (2) Actions for informing the public of AI: • One TV programme • One radio programme • Printing of 4000 posters ongoing FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

15. Summary • No AI reported in Tajikistan as yet SVD preparedness and targeted surveillance could be enhanced • Low risk of poultry in Tajikistan getting AI low concentrations of poultry important to separate wild migratory birds from domestics • Low risk of humans in Tajikistan getting AI well cooked and clean products are safe can avoid high risk activities • Strengthening SVD and veterinarians surveillance & diagnostic capacity helps protect the public AI is priority today, other diseases tomorrow FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan

16. More information at http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html Thank you for your attention FAO Emergency Coordination Unit Tajikistan