# 489
While we've certainly seen some success in the reduction of human infections in some countries, this article glosses over the fact that many countries not only don't have a containment strategy, they don't even have a surveillance system.
Egypt, Indonesia, and Nigeria have all reported human cases in the past 60 days. There are other countries where we get no reports, because quite frankly, no one is checking for H5N1 infections in people or birds.
The Nigerian cases were only discovered because a private citizen paid for an autopsy for his family members when they died suspiciously. Had that not happened, Nigeria would still be claiming no human infections.
Nevertheless, it is true that countries like Vietnam and Thailand have done a good job in reducing human infections with the virus. The jury is still out on the advisability of poultry vaccination. Some scientists worry that it will mask resistant infections and prevent early detection.
So yes, it's true. In countries where containment strategies are in place, and are rigorously pursued, they are making progress. Elsewhere, however, the story isn't quite as optimistic.
Bird flu containment strategy working, says animal health chief
PARIS (AFP) - Countries working to contain bird flu on farms have also rolled back infection amongst humans, the head of the world agency tackling animal health said on Thursday.
"We note that all the countries that are tackling the avian disease also have stopped human cases," the director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Bernard Vallat, told AFP.
Detected cases of humans falling sick from H5N1 had dried up in Vietnam, which with 42 dead has the second highest toll in the world, said Vallat.
In Thailand, where the virus has killed 17 people, a recent flareup had claimed one life but none since then, he added.
"When you tackle the problem at the animal source, there are no more human cases. This is where more resources should be deployed," Vallat said.
The Paris-based OIE recommends systematic culling of flocks suspected to have been contaminated by the virus and for other flocks to be vaccinated if this first defensive wall is breached.
