WHO calls for watch on flu in farmers, animals

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WHO calls for 'close' watch on flu in farmers, animals

Fri Nov 6, 11:21 am ET

GENEVA (AFP) – The World Health Organisation on Friday called for closer

monitoring of farm workers and animals for influenza A viruses, following recent

cases in a wider range of creatures than pigs.

Although the WHO stressed that the cases were isolated and had no impact on the

way the A(H1N1) swine flu pandemic evolved in humans, the UN health agency said

recent findings may indicate broader potential for flu viruses to mix and

mutate.

Pigs have traditionally acted as virtual mixing vessels for different flu

viruses, allowing them to mutate into new forms that could be passed to humans.

" These recent findings further suggest that influenza A viruses in animals and

humans increasingly behave like a pool of genes circulating among multiple

hosts, and that the potential exists for novel influenza viruses to be generated

in animals other than swine, " the WHO said in a briefing note.

" This situation reinforces the need for close monitoring and close collaboration

between public health and veterinary authorities, " it added.

" When influenza infections are detected in farmed animals, WHO recommends

monitoring of farm workers for signs of respiratory illness, and testing for

H1N1 infection should such signs appear. "

Currently, countries are only required to notify avian influenza cases in birds

to international authorities, although some nations have tougher domestic rules

that apply to other animals like pigs.

But the WHO said that since the rulebook also required reporting of " any

emerging disease " in animals to the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE),

" this would include infections with the pandemic H1N1 virus or other novel

influenza viruses. "

The WHO emphasised that laboratory tests had not detected signs that the A(H1N1)

pandemic virus had mutated to a more virulent form.

" These isolated events have had no impact on the dynamics of the pandemic, which

is spreading readily via human-to-human transmission, " it added.

The recently detected cases involving animals have included swine flu appearing

in pigs.

" As human infections become increasingly widespread, transmission of the virus

from humans to swine is likely to occur with greater frequency, " the WHO noted.

Other A(H1N1) infections have been reported in turkeys in Chile and Canada and

in pets such as a cat in the United States, and the WHO also highlighted the

progress of highly virulent H5N1 bird flu in recent years.

Another case raised by the global health watchdog involved a " novel H3N2

influenza virus " found recently in mink on several mink farms in Denmark.

That virus was formed by a combination of human and swine genes that had not

been identified previously in circulating influenza viruses, according to the

WHO.

Testing of farm workers there detected no spread to humans.

" However, the incident demonstrates the constantly evolving ecology of influenza

viruses, the potential for surprising changes, and the need for constant

vigilance, also in animals, " the Geneva-based health agency added.

An official told AFP this week that the WHO is focusing on dealing with the

ongoing pandemic and is leaving it up to other researchers or insitutions to

track down the source of the A(H1N1) virus first uncovered in Mexico and the

United States in April.

On Wednesday, the Paris-based OIE had insisted that there was no evidence that

animals had played " any particular role in the epidemiology or the spread " of

the pandemic virus.

" It does not come as a surprise that notifications of infection in new animals

species are received; on the contrary it demonstrates animal disease

surveillance is efficient and functioning to the benefit of all, " OIE Director

General Bernard Vallat said in a statement.

http://news./s/afp/20091106/hl_afp/healthfluwhoanimalsfarm_200911061623\

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