GLOBAL INFLUENZA MEETING SETS KEY ACTION STEPS, AGREES ON URGENT NEED FOR FINANC

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Link: http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_051109.htm

 

Joint News Release WHO/FAO/OIE/WORLD BANK

 

GLOBAL INFLUENZA MEETING SETS KEY ACTION STEPS, AGREES ON URGENT

NEED FOR FINANCING

 

Geneva, 9 November 2005 - 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,-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

 

- Improving veterinary services, emergency preparedness plans and

control campaigns including culling, vaccination and compensation.

- Assisting countries to control avian influenza in animal

populations.

 

Surveillance

 

- Strengthening early detection and rapid response systems for

animal and human influenza.

- Building and strengthening laboratory capacity.

 

Rapid Containment

 

- Support and training for the investigation of animal and human

cases and clusters, and planning and testing rapid containment

activities.

 

Pandemic Preparedness

 

- 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

 

- Developing integrated national plans across all sectors to provide

the basis for coordinated technical and financial support.

 

Communications

 

- 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. "

 

 

 

 

November 2005