Source: Xinhua
05-05-2009 14:08
Special Report: Tech MaxROME, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday that national authorities and farmers should carefully monitor pigs and investigate any possible occurrences of influenza-like symptoms in domestic animals.
The Rome-based agency of the United Nations made the appeal after transmitting of the A/H1N1 virus between pigs and humans has been confirmed in Canada.
"The human-to-animal transmission that occurred in Canada does not come as a surprise as influenza viruses are capable of transmitting from humans to animals," FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said.
"The Canadian event should therefore not be a matter of panic, but it should remind us of the human-animal link in virus transmission on which we definitely need to keep an eye open," he added.
Influenza viruses, whether in humans or among animals, are constantly evolving genetically along with changes in their ability to cause morbidity and mortality in humans or animals. Therefore the current A/H1N1 situation should be carefully monitored as many of the virus characteristics and developments are still unknown, Domenech said.
Surveillance for porcine respiratory disease should be intensified and all cases of porcine respiratory syndrome are recommended to be immediately reported to veterinary authorities, the FAO recommended.
