Updated on Tuesday, April 03, 2007, 00:00 IST

New York, April 03: The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said that bird flu is on the decline around the world, but warned the disease continues to spread in different countries, threatening the lives of those working around poultry and hurting farm economies.

Worldwide, "there have been fewer cases of the disease this year than last year at the same time, indicating that there is a reduction in overall viral load," said Joseph Domenech, chief veterinary officer of the FAO.

Last year, 53 countries reported H5N1 outbreaks while this year, only 17 countries have been affected so far.

Domenech said that surveillance and reporting of the virus has found that the presence of the deadly H5N1 strain in wild birds is less this year. Last year, Avian flu was believed largely to have been transmitted through the migration of contaminated birds.

This season, poultry trade is seen as the main route by which the disease is spreading.

A statement by the FAO yesterday warned that "the risk of a pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future."

FAO experts say that Egypt, Indonesia and Nigeria have not been able to contain it, making them reservoirs of the disease for possible introduction to other countries.

The country has been hindered in curbing the disease for several reasons, including the lack of compensation for farmers who lose poultry due to culling.

Bureau Report