Low graphics   |   Mobile      Login   |   About us      
Tue, 03:06 30 Jun 2009 GMT17

 
Bird flu

Last reviewed: 09-12-2008

THREAT OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC


An Indonesian man transports live chickens to a market in Jakarta.<br> REUTERS/Crack Palinggi
An Indonesian man transports live chickens to a market in Jakarta.
REUTERS/Crack Palinggi
Avian flu is devastating bird populations around the globe but if the virus acquires the ability to jump easily between humans it could unleash a pandemic, killing millions of people within months.

  • Bird flu confirmed in around 60 countries
  • No cure exists
  • Developing countries most at risk

    The current outbreak, which originated in southeast Asia in 2003, has spread to the Middle East, Europe, South Asia and Africa.

    More than 240 people have died around the world from the H5N1 strain. Almost all have caught it from birds, but scientists believe there have been a few cases of human to human transmission.

    A human pandemic would be particularly catastrophic in developing countries where living conditions and malnutrition are likely to make people more vulnerable, health services are weak and vaccines and antivirals would be beyond reach.

    Even if there is no pandemic, bird flu will threaten the livelihoods of millions of people in Asia and Africa as health officials carry out mass poultry cullings and other countries ban imports.

    Hundreds of millions of domestic birds - most owned by poor farmers in developing countries - have died or been culled.

    Countries with human deaths: Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam. Bangladesh, Djibouti and Myanmar have also reported human cases but not deaths.


    Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

    • Related articles

    Breaking stories
     Asia RPT-Will two flus mix in Indonesia? Experts worry

    Asia Will two flus mix in Indonesia? Experts worry

    AlertNet insight
     Americas Climate change and conflicts: Is there a link at all?

    Aid agency news feed
     Americas As Millions Flee Conflicts, Women's Refugee Commission Urges New Focus on Livelihoods for the Displaced

    Blogs
     Americas Bali climate change talks: 'The long, arduous road' to nowhere?

    Maps
     Americas MAP: Global Incidence of H5N1 Virus


    AlertNet for journalists

    AlertNet for journalists is a set of tools and services designed to make life easier for reporters, fact-checkers and editors when covering humanitarian emergencies.
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-06-15T134447Z_01_CAI502_RTRIDSP_2_FLU-EGYPT_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/CAI502.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-06-15T134306Z_01_CAI505_RTRIDSP_2_FLU-EGYPT_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/CAI505.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-06-15T134058Z_01_CAI506X_RTRIDSP_2_FLU-EGYPT_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/CAI506X.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-06-15T133322Z_01_CAI504_RTRIDSP_2_FLU-EGYPT_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/CAI504.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-06-15T133006Z_01_CAI506_RTRIDSP_2_FLU-EGYPT_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/CAI506.htm

    A worker uses disinfectant to clean the interior of a train in a Cairo trainyard, June 15, 2009. Egypt, hard hit by the more deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, detected its ...


    More pictures | Galleries

    * Denotes mandatory entry      Rate this item *  
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5


    Name: *     Email: * 
    I am: *     


    Comments:

    Enter the code shown on the left *




    URL: http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/BIRDFLU.htm

    For our full disclaimer and copyright information please visit http://www.alertnet.org