SYDNEY-The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu is mutating unpredictably and at a rapid pace, a senior WHO official has warned Asia Pacific health ministers.
APEC health ministers have wrapped their two-day Sydney meeting with a pledge to address the "very real" threat of a global pandemic of bird flu or human influenza.
The commitment came after a World Health Organisation (WHO) presentation urging vigilance in the face of unpredictable changes in the H5N1 virus, which poses the biggest current threat.
Dr Shigeru Omi, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, told ministers and senior delegates from the 21 nations the virus was rapidly evolving.
"The virus is already entrenched, embedded in this part of the world and ... it has been very, very unstable and changeable," Dr Omi said after the meeting.
"If we put (these two points) together it's a very clear indication that we have to remain vigilant."
The Indonesian strain has infected 309 people since 2003, killing 188, but Dr Omi warned that what was once two distinct grades had now spilt into four sub-groups.
"And I would not be surprised if we end up with more sub-classes in the years to come," he said.
Current mutations have not necessarily increased the likelihood of human-to-human transmission, but it proved the virus was "risky".
"The longer the virus lasts, the more chance such a mutation will occur," Dr Omi said. "It's simple mathematics."
Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott said given its unpredictability, it was vital H5N1 was closely monitored as it evolved.
"That means it's very important to have rapid virus sharing because the threat of pandemic remains very real," Mr Abbott said.
The Sydney Declaration signed today specifically commits countries to sharing samples of the deadly H5N1 virus as it mutates so scientists are able to match the latest strain with vaccines in production.
Indonesia interrupted the practice earlier this year to protest that poorer nations with the samples may miss out on expensive vaccines developed in wealthier nations like Australia.
Mr Abbott said he was pleased with the new pledge, saying any more significant interruptions to virus sharing would have "tragic" consequences.
Specialists have predicted that an influenza would kill 48,000 Australians and hospitalise a further 150,000, with seven million seeking medical attention.
Meanwhile, United Nations senior influenza coordinator David Nabarro warned the region must act against "flu fatigue" as people become complacent about the threat.
Pandemics should be treated with the same seriousness as the threat of terrorism, global warming and tsunami, Dr Nabarro said.
"You don't hear about hijack fatigue do you?" he said.
"Influenza is a potential cause of masses of suffering but there are individuals saying a pandemic hasn't happened so we can't be bother planning to avoid it."
"We can't get caught napping on this or we make big mistakes."
Feeds