January 18, 2010

SEA to crack down on poultry smuggling to fight H5N1

Disease experts in Southeast Asia will map out key poultry smuggling routes, especially along Cambodia's long border with Thailand and Vietnam, in a move to prevent the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus in the region.

Researchers from China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam met in the Chinese city of Kunming to discuss ways to control the spread of the virus.

"In Cambodia, illegal or informal trade occurs along its long border with Thailand and Vietnam. There is that informal trade, not just in birds, but eggs and other poultry products, smuggling," said Khieu Borin, director of Cambodia's Center for Livestock and Agriculture Department.

While scarce media attention has been paid in the last year to H5N1, there have been outbreaks of the disease in birds and it has killed people in China, Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Experts also discussed the role of wild migratory birds in the spread of the H5N1.

One worry often cited by experts is Indonesia's insistence on not sharing virus samples. Researchers need to study the virus to track its molecular changes, which can influence its behavior.

Last week, Indonesia's health minister Endang Sedyaningsih said the country will continue to hold back samples until it secured guarantees from richer nations and drugmakers that poor countries get access to affordable vaccines derived from their samples.