Avian influenza: integration of knowledge updated for disease prevention and control

• Main Author: Chethanond, U.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University 2006-07-01
• Series: Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST)
• Subjects: Avian influenza; bird flu; H5N1; disease prevention and control; vaccination
• Online Access: http://www.sjst.psu.ac.th/journal/28_4_pdf/09-avian-influenza.pdf

Avian influenza (AI) subtype H5N1 is a highly contagious as well as highly pathogenic disease of poultry, and also a zoonosis. The epidemic has occurred in Asia since 2003, causing great economic loss to the poultry industry. The fear has arisen that the virus, which can mutate easily, may have reassortment with influenza virus leading to pandemic outbreak. Stamping out the birds in infected farms is the major control measure in Thailand which has an impact on not only the psychic loss of raisers but also the loss of genetic pool. This review is aimed to disclose updated knowledge and approaches to implement the control measures. The strategies are involved with 1) outreach to stakeholders on the property of virus and transmission, 2) restriction of movement and carcass disposition, and 3) reduction of viral contamination in the environment and increased farm biosecurity. Vaccination is an option for which both pro and cons must be considered. However, owing to sophisticated technology, vaccines offer more choices and are produced better results in terms of protection and reduction of viral contamination. Thus, many countries decided to use vaccine for AI prevention and control nowadays.