Date:19/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/19/stories/2004121905250900.htm

National

`Avian flu biggest threat after SARS'

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE, DEC. 18. An outbreak of avian flu which caused panic in nine countries in South-East Asia earlier this year was the next biggest threat to the world after the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which was now under control, said Malik Peiris, Professor of Medicine, Department of Microbiology at the University of Hongkong. who detected the SARS virus about a year ago. Just as SARS spread to humans from animals, the avian flu was transmitted to humans from infected poultry, Dr. Peiris, who detected the SARS virus about a year ago, said. This reinforced the need for greater collaboration between veterinary doctors and researchers and those involved in the treatment and research on diseases afflicting human beings. Dr. Peiris, who was here in connection with a symposium on infection and immunity conducted at the Christian Medical College on Thursday, told newspersons that following the outbreak of SARS, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had put in place a network of research laboratories to identify the virus in different countries. When the disease emerged, it was totally new and "we did not know the cause for the transmission". But thanks to the efforts of WHO the etiology was detected as a virus. Researchers found that the virus was shedding faeces, which led to the conclusion that the virus spread not only through the respiratory mode but also through the faecal mode. Within a month, the transmission was controlled through special efforts at the laboratories. But since it was a new disease, the impact was greater and 8,000 patients in 25 countries were infected, of whom 700 died.

The scientist said now if there was a recrudescence of SARS, it could be detected quickly and its spread controlled due to the knowledge available. The SARS experience had shown that coordination between veterinary, medical doctors and scientists was essential to tackle diseases which spread from animals. With the avian flu today posing the biggest epidemic threat next to SARS, there was need for greater collaboration between the two categories of doctors and scientists all over the world. During the previous outbreak, 100 million poultry had been killed in order to identify the virus and prevent the spread of the disease.