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Geneva
- A global meeting has identified key components of a global action plan to
control avian influenza in animals and simultaneously limit the threat of a
human influenza pandemic.
More
than 600 delegates from over 100 countries agreed that there is an urgent need
for financial and other resources for countries which have already been affected
by avian influenza, as well as for those which are most at risk, and to identify
and respond to a human pandemic the moment it emerges.
In
his conclusions to this historic meeting, Dr Lee Jong-wook, Director-General of
the World Health Organization (WHO), said: "The world recognizes that this
is a major public health challenge. WHO is ready to focus its resources to
reduce the risk of a human pandemic. We have plans on paper, but we must now
test them. Once a pandemic virus appears, it will be too late."
Experts
and officials set out key steps that must be taken in response to the threat of
the H5N1 influenza virus which is currently circulating in animals in Asia and
has been identified in parts of Europe:
Control
at Source in Birds
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Improving veterinary services, emergency preparedness plans and control
campaigns including culling, vaccination and compensation.
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Assisting countries to control avian influenza in animal populations.
Surveillance
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Strengthening early detection and rapid response systems for animal and human
influenza.
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Building and strengthening laboratory capacity.
Rapid
Containment
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Support and training for the investigation of animal and human cases and
clusters, and planning and testing rapid containment activities.
Pandemic
Preparedness
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Building and testing national pandemic preparedness plans, conducting a global
pandemic response exercise, strengthening the capacity of health systems,
training clinicians and health managers.
Integrated
Country Plans
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Developing integrated national plans across all sectors to provide the basis for
coordinated technical and financial support.
Communications
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To support all of the above, factual and transparent communications, in
particular risk communication, is vital.
Dr
David Nabarro, Senior UN System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, said:
"We must use all our assets and skills to the best effect, avoid
duplication, share expertise, learn from our experiences and tune-up our ways of
working. We must focus on support for existing country mechanisms and provide
integrated global joint plans, programmes and monitoring."
The
meeting discussed key financing needs for countries in the short-, medium- and
long-term. According to an analysis presented by the World Bank, the needs of
affected countries will potentially reach US$ 1 billion over the next three
years. This does not include financing for human or animal vaccine development,
for antiviral medicines or for compensating farmers for loss of income due to
animals which have been culled.
Dr
Louise Fresco, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO), said "Many countries where the disease is endemic have
already taken action but they are overwhelmed by the situation and require
urgent assistance. Fighting the disease in animals is key to our success in
limiting the threat of a human pandemic. We know that the virus is being spread
by wild birds but we need more research to fully understand their role."
The
meeting supported an urgent resource request for US$ 35 million to fund
high-priority actions by WHO, FAO, and the World Organisation for Animal Health
(OIE) over the next six months. Additionally, surveillance, control and
preparedness work in countries requires urgent funding.
Dr
Bernard Vallat, the Director-General of the OIE, said, "The priority now
must be to address the urgent needs over the next six months. OIE and FAO have
identified the key priorities as evaluating and strengthening veterinary
services, laboratory and surveillance capacity in affected countries and those
most at risk. We must also provide support to the avian influenza network for
diagnostic expertise and exchange of isolates with the WHO. I urge you all to
remember that we are talking about an international public good."
It
is vital to limit the risk of human exposure to the H5N1 virus and the
consequent risk of an emergence of a new pandemic virus. WHO's urgent needs are
focused on support for countries to improve vital surveillance systems,
strengthen early warning systems and build communications capacity. "Time
is of the essence," said Dr Margaret Chan, Representative of the WHO
Director-General for Pandemic Influenza. "We must act now if we are to have
the maximum possible opportunity to contain a pandemic."
"The
minute there are more regions or countries with animal outbreaks or
human-to-human transmission, the funding needs will increase hugely," said
James Adams, Vice-President of the World Bank for Operations and Head of the
Bank's Avian Flu Taskforce. "Based on our work here in Geneva over the past
three days, we now have a strong business plan to take to the donors financial
conference in Beijing in mid-January."
**Joint
News Release WHO/FAO/OIE/WORLD BANK
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