BANGKOK – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is sounding the alarm about a surge in avian influenza cases across the Asia Pacific region.

The UN agency said Thursday in a media release that a new variant of the virus has emerged, complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.

The number of human infections has also spiked, with 13 new cases reported in Cambodia and additional cases in China and Vietnam.

“The situation is deeply concerning,” said Kachen Wongsathapornchai, FAO regional manager. “Immediate, coordinated preventive measures are essential.”

The FAO is urging countries in the region to strengthen surveillance systems, improve biosecurity measures in poultry farms, and increase public awareness about the risks of the disease.

The agency is working with 13 countries and partners in the region to combat the outbreak, with support from the United States Agency for International Development and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.