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With continuing spread of Avian Influenza (AI) all over the world and with outbreaks of disease registered in Ukraine, the United Nations System organisations stand ready, together with other international and bilateral partners to support Ukraine's effort in fighting the infection.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Ukraine is committed to continue coordination of the international community efforts along with the Government of Ukraine to generate a comprehensive response and to address effectively a possible outbreak of AI pandemic in the country.
Major influenza pandemics have occurred three times during the last century, in 1918 (Spanish flu), 1957 (Asian flu) and 1968 (Hong Kong flu) respectively. The 1918 pandemic was especially dramatic, causing about 40 million deaths worldwide. Evidence shows that newly emerging influenza pandemic strains usually originate from animal influenza viruses.
An increasing number of countries, predominantly in South East and Central Asia and Europe, have experienced avian influenza H5N1 outbreaks in domestic birds and wild waterfowl. WHO has so far reported 141 human cases with 81 deaths from five countries, with a case fatality rate of over 50%, and a particularly high fatality rate of 75% - 90% in children and young adults.
On 2 December, 2005, Ukraine reported the first occurrence of HPAI H5N1 in poultry. According to prevailing experts' opinion, the main reason of the infection was contact with migrant birds. The response to AI outbreak in Ukraine on behalf of the Government of Ukraine is coordinated by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, while emergency actions are performed jointly by Ministries of Emergencies, Agriculture and Health.
The last official outbreak of H5N1 was registered on 11 June, 2006 in domestic birds in the village of Pisky (Burynskiy district, Sumy Region).
On 15 February, 2007 the official representative of the Ministry of Emergencies, Mr. Vitaliy Marynyuk, Deputy Director of the Heath-care and Medico-biological Protection Department, made a statement indicating that Ukrainian Government does not rule out the possibility of seasonal recurrence of avian flu in Ukraine in late March - early April. He stressed that the virus first of all threatens Kherson, Odessa, Mykolaviv, Zaporizhya regions and the Crimea. Mr. Marynyuk also stated that the Emergency Situations Ministry is ready for liquidation of any emergency situation linked with avian flu.
Cases of human infections have not been reported.
| Situation Reports on AI in Ukraine |
The UN Resident Coordinator office continues monitoring and consolidation of information about the Avian Influenza situation in Ukraine. If you'd like to receive situation reports, please contact AI focal point Yaryna Basystyuk
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Situation reports on AI in Ukraine are available here
World Health Organization: ten things you need to know about Avian Influenza
Food and Agriculture Organization: questions and answers on Avian Influenza
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