The deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus has finally
landed on Africa when cases were reported in several chicken farms
in Nigeria early February.
The epidemic has aroused wide concerns because this was the
first bird flu outbreak confirmed in Africa, indicating further
spread of the disease. The channel of virus spread into the
continent is still unknown, so people are not sure about effective
prevention and control measures. Being the poorest continent of
today's world, Africa is ill-equipped to handle an epidemic while
the closer contact between farmers and their fowls add difficulty
to curbing virus expansion.
Facing the severe situation, African countries held emergent
discussions on control measures. Currently, the world mainly relies
on culling and isolation in fighting the epidemic. The African
Union has estimated that once spread in Africa, the bird flu
pandemic will lead to death or cull of 165 million domestic fowls
or 15 percent of the continent, resulting in a total economic loss
as high as US$500 million.
The loss, if only economic, can be alleviated through
international aids. But the more worrisome is the impact on people
which, once the situation goes out of control, will be much graver
than in Asia and Europe considering Africa's comparatively low
capability in medical diagnosis and monitoring. As an official from
the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) put it, on top of a
fatal strike on fowls, the pandemic will pose a severe threat to
the livelihood of millions of Africans, pushing more people before
the virus. By saying so he lifted the condition in Nigeria to the
level of "international crisis".
This is by no means exaggerating or groundless worry. Even
before the virus jumped into Africa, scientists had expressed their
worries about the possible serious results in Africa, citing high
possibility of new virus strains of stronger adaptability and
fatality that may produce a terrible public health crisis in the
continent. Given the fact that south of Sahara Africa is badly
affected by AIDS, HIV carriers would be the first hit once the
disease spreads, not only speeding up the running of H5N1 virus but
fueling the possibility of new strains.
Forward planning is always essential for the wise. Scientists
believe the H5N1 virus is transmitted through water contamination
and contacts with fowls by migrant birds during their travel. In a
global research of this respect, the Great Rift Valley, a huge
gathering place for birds including wild ducks and flamingos, is
listed a region of key monitoring. The FAO warned last year that as
winter comes, birds flying southward from Europe and Asia may carry
the bird flu virus to Africa. The UN Environment Program, perhaps
thinking the same, is preparing for a global early warning system
against bird flu. Unfortunately, scientists' predictions are proved
right when related research and the warning system are still under
way.
The world will face an uphill struggle in bird flu prevention
and control if the virus is proved to be carried into Africa by
migrant birds. Natural laws never bend on human will, and people
can only sigh helplessly facing tens of thousands of traveling
birds descending from the sky. These birds, who make large-scale
moves twice a year, will surely create a vicious circle if they
carry and spread virus and thus pose a threat to human health and
existence. Thus, protecting environment and our planet is no longer
a slogan but requires immediate action.
The pandemic is spreading around, and Africa is waiting for help
from mankind.
(People's Daily Online February 14, 2006)
