Avian Flu Avian Flu Tuesday // 2.21.2006 Electronic Discussion In Preparation For The Brainstorming Meeting On Avian Flu to be held in Curitiba on 19 MarchIntroductionThe Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in consultation with the Chair of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), is convening a one-day brainstorming meeting in Curitiba, Brazil, prior to the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the impact on biodiversity of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus responsible for avian flu, in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The results of the meeting will be submitted by the Chair of SBSTTA to the Conference of the Parties.In recent months, continuing outbreaks of the pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 have raised concern in the world community about the impacts of the disease on human health, livelihoods and nature conservation. As of 6 February 2006, the cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza caused by the H5N1 virus reported to WHO is 165 and 88 deaths worldwide (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2006_02_06/en/index.html). The H5N1 avian flu has now been reported in Asia, Europe and Africa mainly in poultry and waterbirds.There is evidence that the H5N1 virus can infect, in addition to poultry and migratory birds (already considered inter alia by FAO/WHO/OIE and in the context of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Convention on Migratory Species), a number of other animals, including both domestic and wild mammals, some of which are endangered. Little is known about the impacts of the virus on these animals and the role that these animals can play in the transmission and endemicity of avian influenza. The world community is taking or considering taking measures (such as culling or quarantine) to prevent or stop further spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. There is a need to consider the potential impact of these measures on biodiversity and the goods and services it provides for human well-being and life on Earth. Such information is required for the development of strategies to prevent or control further spread of the virus.
Avian Flu Tuesday // 2.21.2006 Electronic Discussion In Preparation For The Brainstorming Meeting On Avian Flu to be held in Curitiba on 19 MarchIntroductionThe Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in consultation with the Chair of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), is convening a one-day brainstorming meeting in Curitiba, Brazil, prior to the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the impact on biodiversity of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus responsible for avian flu, in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The results of the meeting will be submitted by the Chair of SBSTTA to the Conference of the Parties.In recent months, continuing outbreaks of the pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 have raised concern in the world community about the impacts of the disease on human health, livelihoods and nature conservation. As of 6 February 2006, the cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza caused by the H5N1 virus reported to WHO is 165 and 88 deaths worldwide (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2006_02_06/en/index.html). The H5N1 avian flu has now been reported in Asia, Europe and Africa mainly in poultry and waterbirds.There is evidence that the H5N1 virus can infect, in addition to poultry and migratory birds (already considered inter alia by FAO/WHO/OIE and in the context of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Convention on Migratory Species), a number of other animals, including both domestic and wild mammals, some of which are endangered. Little is known about the impacts of the virus on these animals and the role that these animals can play in the transmission and endemicity of avian influenza. The world community is taking or considering taking measures (such as culling or quarantine) to prevent or stop further spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. There is a need to consider the potential impact of these measures on biodiversity and the goods and services it provides for human well-being and life on Earth. Such information is required for the development of strategies to prevent or control further spread of the virus.
