FAO warns of rising bird flu in Asia-Pacific, calls for regional action
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization sounded the alarm on Thursday over the rise of bird flu in the Asia-Pacific region.
Since late last year, 13 people have contracted the virus in Cambodia, followed by further outbreaks in China and Vietnam — after a period of minimal human transmission.
A new, highly infectious strain has also emerged – Food and Agriculture Organization has said – and it is posing a new challenge for scientists and public health agencies. The H5N1 bird flu virus has spread further than ever before, to South America and Antarctica and to new species of wildlife and livestock.
In March of this year, It first spread to dairy cattle in the United States, increased concern about its spread to humans.
Thailand and Myanmar are now at risk, while India, Nepal and Bangladesh have struggled with outbreaks. With limited biosecurity, the Greater Mekong Subregion, Indonesia and the Philippines are also in the spotlight, the FAO said, making an urgent call for regional coordination to address the “very worrying” spread of the disease.
The new strain has increased the risk of a pandemic and “requires immediate coordinated prevention measures,” said Kachen Wongsathapornchai, regional director of the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD).
FAO calls on member states to establish comprehensive surveillance systems, including genome sequencing to track the virus, rapid diagnostics and cross-sectoral data sharing. Governments, international organizations and the private sector must share information rapidly to plan containment strategies. Biosafety and biosecurity in the poultry industry must be strengthened and public awareness raised to reduce the risk of transmission.
With support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), FAO is working with 13 countries in Asia and the Pacific to prevent, detect and respond to health threats.
Gaza: Famine fears persist as Israeli operations continue to harm farmers in the enclave
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Foreign Affairs, OCHAhas issued a stark warning about famine in Gaza, saying aid is not reaching those who need it. “Insecurity, damaged roads and limited access are severely hampering the delivery of aid between Kerem Shalom Crossing, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah,” the UN agency said.
Lack of fuel and aid is affecting six bakeries in northern Gaza, leaving them open for only a few days. Community kitchens are facing severe shortages that are preventing them from producing enough hot meals for those displaced. The lack of commercial supplies is also leading to a severe protein shortage in local markets.
Only a few vegetables are available in northern Gaza and at unaffordable prices. The agricultural sector is devastated, with farms and fields abandoned. Missing the next farming season will destroy livelihoods, OCHA said.
Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that agriculture in the Gaza Strip covers more than 40 percent of the land area and provides up to 30 percent of the population’s daily food intake. The fighting has destroyed this sector, preventing the production of fresh, nutritious local food and reducing access to essential items for a healthy diet. Ninety-six percent of Gaza’s population, some 2.15 million people, are facing severe or higher levels of food insecurity.
Europe tops the charts for alcohol consumption. WHO calls for urgent action to curb the trend
It seems that Europeans do not want to give up wine…
World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) report shows that the continent’s drinking habits have not changed. Despite the health risks, Europeans consume an average of 9.2 litres of pure alcohol a year – making them the biggest drinkers in the world.
The impact is far-reaching, including domestic violence, accidents and mental health problems, said WHO Dr Gauden Galea, calling on countries to implement effective policies to reduce alcohol use.
These numbers tell a sobering story: men in the region drink nearly four times more than women, and 470 million people (missing word)people drink alcohol, according to the latest figures. Two in three adults drink alcohol, one in 10 suffers from an alcohol use disorder and nearly six percent live with alcohol dependence. Yet only 12 of 53 countries have made progress in reducing consumption by 10 percent since 2010.
The report warns that alcohol is the leading cause of death in Europe, causing nearly 800,000 deaths each year; 2,200 people die every day from alcohol-related causes, accounting for nearly nine percent of all deaths in the region.
Despite clear evidence of harm, many European countries are failing to implement WHO recommendations including increasing alcohol taxes, restricting marketing and reducing availability.
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have demonstrated that population control policies can reduce consumption, harm, and increase life expectancy.
WHO calls on countries to act now to respond Sustainable development goals health and curbing commercial interests that promote drinking. Implementing “Best Buys” and other evidence-based strategies could significantly reduce alcohol-related disease, death, disability and injury, the report said.
