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The deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus has finally landed on Africa when cases were reported in several chicken farms in Nigeria early February.

The epidemic has aroused wide concerns because this was the first bird flu outbreak confirmed in Africa, indicating further spread of the disease. The channel of virus spread into the continent is still unknown, so people are not sure about effective prevention and control measures. Being the poorest continent of today's world, Africa is ill-equipped to handle an epidemic while the closer contact between farmers and their fowls add difficulty to curbing virus expansion.

Facing the severe situation, African countries held emergent discussions on control measures. Currently, the world mainly relies on culling and isolation in fighting the epidemic. The African Union has estimated that once spread in Africa, the bird flu pandemic will lead to death or cull of 165 million domestic fowls or 15 percent of the continent, resulting in a total economic loss as high as US$500 million.

The loss, if only economic, can be alleviated through international aids. But the more worrisome is the impact on people which, once the situation goes out of control, will be much graver than in Asia and Europe considering Africa's comparatively low capability in medical diagnosis and monitoring. As an official from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) put it, on top of a fatal strike on fowls, the pandemic will pose a severe threat to the livelihood of millions of Africans, pushing more people before the virus. By saying so he lifted the condition in Nigeria to the level of "international crisis".

This is by no means exaggerating or groundless worry. Even before the virus jumped into Africa, scientists had expressed their worries about the possible serious results in Africa, citing high possibility of new virus strains of stronger adaptability and fatality that may produce a terrible public health crisis in the continent. Given the fact that south of Sahara Africa is badly affected by AIDS, HIV carriers would be the first hit once the disease spreads, not only speeding up the running of H5N1 virus but fueling the possibility of new strains.

Forward planning is always essential for the wise. Scientists believe the H5N1 virus is transmitted through water contamination and contacts with fowls by migrant birds during their travel. In a global research of this respect, the Great Rift Valley, a huge gathering place for birds including wild ducks and flamingos, is listed a region of key monitoring. The FAO warned last year that as winter comes, birds flying southward from Europe and Asia may carry the bird flu virus to Africa. The UN Environment Program, perhaps thinking the same, is preparing for a global early warning system against bird flu. Unfortunately, scientists' predictions are proved right when related research and the warning system are still under way.

The world will face an uphill struggle in bird flu prevention and control if the virus is proved to be carried into Africa by migrant birds. Natural laws never bend on human will, and people can only sigh helplessly facing tens of thousands of traveling birds descending from the sky. These birds, who make large-scale moves twice a year, will surely create a vicious circle if they carry and spread virus and thus pose a threat to human health and existence. Thus, protecting environment and our planet is no longer a slogan but requires immediate action.

The pandemic is spreading around, and Africa is waiting for help from mankind.

(People's Daily Online February 14, 2006)