GENEVA, 25th July, 2024 (WAM) -- The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has called for urgent regional efforts to combat a rise in avian influenza cases across the Asia-Pacific region.
In a statement issued today in Geneva, FAO said that recent developments are “alarming”, and that after a prolonged period of minimal human infection, 13 new human cases have been reported in Southeast Asia.
“The situation is further complicated by the emergence of a new variant of avian influenza, presenting new challenges for scientists, public health authorities, clinicians and communities alike," the statement added.
FAO emphasised the urgency of a unified response and the need for Member Nations must work together to implement comprehensive surveillance systems, including full genome sequencing, to track the novel virus's spread and evolution.