The suggestion comes after a warning by the World Health Organisation -WHO that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks among mammals could help the virus spread easily among humans. The world has since 2021 had a surge in the of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N or bird flu which led to the death of wild birds and poultry and incidental infections in mammals.
The need for
the Convention on Migratory Species(CMS) to play a role in health, especially in ending
pandemics like COVID-19 and bird flu has come as delegates meet in Uzbekistan.
The suggestion
comes after a warning by the World Health Organisation -WHO that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks
among mammals could help the virus spread easily among humans.
The world has
since 2021 had a surge in the of highly pathogenic avian influenza
(HPAI) H5N or bird flu which led to the death of wild birds and poultry and
incidental infections in mammals.
Avian influenza viruses normally spread
among birds, but the increasing number of H5N1 avian influenza detections among
mammals-which are biologically closer to humans than birds has raised concern.
Armed with fresh scientific evidence about this virus, delegates say a situation
similar to what was witnessed during COVID-19 should happen. They
are calling for a new instrument for
CMS to engage with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the prevention of
future outbreaks of diseases of zoonotic nature.
The instrument should also
guide pandemic preparedness and response.
In July 2023, the Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Co-Convened a Scientific
Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Bird.
Since 2021 southern Africa (specifically
Namibia and South Africa) has reported extensive mortality due to HPAI of
African Penguins. Scientists note that other regions including East Africa could
be affected too.
The extent and scale of outbreaks have
significant conservation consequences for multiple species. Globally threatened
species that have been affected include several crane species.
Scientific papers presented at the
conference indicated that the current crisis is set to continue.
They are suggesting
more specific responses to this conservation, livestock, and human health threat.
Egypt is one of the countries at the conference
that has called for urgent interventions to stop a crisis similar to that
caused by the COVID-19 virus that brought the entire world to its knees
“We need to look at emerging issues over
the last few years. The issue of COVID-19 has led to many complications
not just in terms of the disease but how companies played a dirty game with
very many countries. It was not only costly but we lost very many lives” said a delegate from Egypt.
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One Health Approach
Various
countries in a meeting chaired by Colin
Galbraith from the United Kingdom supported the idea of one health approach in
responding to outbreaks of diseases either in wildlife or humans. 'One Health' is an integrated,
unifying approach to balance and optimize the health ofpeople, animals, and the environment.
The EU and its member states backed Egypt and others
in the call for one health approach.
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The Food and Agricultural Organization
has observed that the issue of the interaction of pathogens between wildlife,
livestock, and humans or zoonotic diseases has come up in many bodies including
the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The FAO emphasized the need for parties
and others to come together and minimize the transmission of infectious diseases
to wildlife, and to humans. Uganda is considered
a 'hot spot' for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease epidemics.
At
the Conference, Uganda is behind the call for a new instrument of pandemic
prevention, preparedness and response. Uganda
has emphasized the need for capacity building in the use of the tool.
