Joseph Domenech Quotations

With the recent multiplication of outbreaks in China they have now decided on countrywide vaccination, but at this point we cannot say if such a massive program is either possible or advisable, China can do it.

We are not blaming the countries involved who are doing all they can. But it is proving very hard to shut down markets, to slaughter chickens. Livestock is many people's livelihood. It is very worrying.

One of our major concerns is now the potential spread of avian influenza through migratory birds to northern and eastern Africa, ... There is serious risk that this scenario may become a reality.

Given that it is a highly contagious disease, we were sure it could spread from one region to another, either through wildlife or through trade and movements of products. So this happened and we are not surprised at all.

If a poultry epidemic should develop beyond the boundaries of Nigeria the effects would be disastrous for the livelihoods and the food security of millions of people.

There is ample evidence that the Nigerian bird flu situation is difficult and worrisome.

It is going more and more toward the Western part of the world.

The animal health infrastructure in the country is facing a big challenge and will require outside assistance.

Wild birds seem to be one of the main avian influenza carriers, but more research is urgently needed to fully understand their role in spreading the virus,

We are the first to admit that there could be outbreaks there, although there are currently no indications.

Today there are far more questions than answers.

We'd like to have more access to their data.

The control of avian disease is the best way to control a pandemic.

We should provide incentives to poor African farmers to report immediately if they suspect an outbreak among poultry, and discourage them from rushing to sell birds on the market.

Without financial incentives, people will probably continue to hide outbreaks and sell infected poultry.

There is still a window of opportunity for substantially reducing the risk of a human pandemic evolving from H5N1 by controlling the virus at its source, in animals.

We've recently started to become more worried about transmission in the wild, particularly after the big outbreak among migratory birds in Qinghai,

The priority to prevent the pandemic still stands on Asia, but besides that, if the virus is coming in Africa, yes, it's a very big worry for us.

We are very much worried and surprised since we thought Turkey had the capacity to respond.

Everything has to be done to find out exactly where the virus came from, since it would be a big surprise to find it in South America.

Birds play a role in the primary infection of the country, but then after that there's no need for wildlife. It will spread very easily from one village to another through trade,

Control and reaction measures must be taken and we will be present to assist, with of course the support of donor countries, because their aid is indispensable.

FAO is concerned that poor countries in southeast Europe, where wild birds from Asia mingle with others from northern Europe, may lack the capacity to detect and deal with outbreaks of bird flu.

Every time there is a specific festival, which has a consequence of movement, it is a period where the spread of pathogens is higher.

The risk of Africa getting bird flu is very high.

The situation is very worrying... If you respond in two or three days that's different but if a week passes, that's another thing.

Pure stamping out will not control the epidemic.

The movement and trade of poultry have strongly contributed to the further spread of the virus.

Compensating farmers for the loss of their animals is another important tool to encourage early reporting of outbreaks and for effective application of control measures. Without financial incentives, people will probably continue to hide outbreaks and sell infected poultry.

Avian influenza has become endemic in Indonesia and it is continuing to spread.

This is a very worrying situation, and the risk from wild birds is a very difficult questions,

It's a very worrisome situation because it's in a big country with a lot of poultry farms. It has good conditions to have several outbreaks.

It remains unclear if the outbreak has been triggered by migratory birds or by the trade and movement of poultry or poultry products.

It's easy to understand the point of view of the Netherlands, since they lost 50 percent of their poultry population in 2003. But do we have to promote this for all countries? At this point, we are not sure.

Considering the possible widespread entrenchment of the disease in poultry, FAO is advising the government to prepare for a targeted vaccination campaign.

The need to keep domestic birds away from wild birds has been widely recognized and efforts to do so have been implemented in many countries.

The Middle East and northern African countries should be able to build up a line of defense against avian influenza. FAO is more concerned about the situation in eastern Africa, where veterinary services, due to various constraints, should have more difficulties to run efficient bird flu campaigns based on slaughtering infected animals and vaccination,

The fears are very high because many African countries are not in a very good position to respond to this kind of crisis, ... If there is no more support for veterinary services in Africa, then we may face a very, very severe problem.

The countries urgently need international assistance to build up basic surveillance and control systems.

The countries concerned and the international community have to make every effort to ensure that bird flu does not become endemic in Africa.

In a way we are not surprised, since we had expected a possible expansion of the disease through wildlife.

In Africa, the capacity to respond will not be enough.

In Africa in general, the veterinary services are understaffed and under-budgeted.

In 2004 we said it will be an international crisis if we don't stop it in Asia, and this is exactly what is happening two years later.

the cycle of bird flu infection that will occur in poultry this winter will not be stopped.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus poses a very serious threat to animal health in West Africa. If a poultry epidemic should develop beyond the boundaries of Nigeria the effects would be disastrous for the livelihoods and the food security of millions of people.

The close proximity between people and animals and insufficient surveillance and disease control capability in eastern African countries create an ideal breeding ground for the virus,

The close coordination of control activities and the need for a central chain of command at the level of the federal Chief Veterinary Officer and between the regional states are crucial.