08 December 2005
Congress Might Seek Changes to Bush Flu Plan
Lawmakers call for more aid abroad, amid further reports of disease
By Charlene Porter
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington – Bipartisan support is emerging in the U.S. Congress for a heightened national commitment to addressing the problem of pandemic influenza abroad.
Bush administration officials appeared before the House International Relations Committee December 7 to offer further explanation of the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response, unveiled by the president November 1. (See fact sheet.)
The administration is seeking congressional support for a $7 billion program to better prepare the nation and the world for a global outbreak of influenza, which could cost millions of lives and cause widespread social and economic chaos, the record of pandemics of the past.
The president’s strategy emphasizes the need for preparedness and communication across government and society, surveillance and detection of disease on both domestic and international levels, and response and containment to limit the spread of the outbreak and to mitigate its consequences.
Five weeks after it was announced, the pandemic flu strategy is before the Congress for approval, and lawmakers are indicating they might want to make some adjustments in the president’s plan.
The Bush plan allocates $250 million to international activities to contain and control further outbreaks of avian influenza and establish surveillance networks to insure that any widespread appearance of the disease in the human population is swiftly detected and contained
House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, a senior Republican from Illinois, said that amount, just over 3 percent of the overall $7 billion proposal, “might not be adequate.”
Representative Tom Lantos, a senior Democrat from California, called the percentage allocated to foreign activities “woefully insufficient” adding “I recommend that we, at a minimum, double this amount.”
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science Anthony “Bud” Rock reminded the lawmakers that the United States is not acting unilaterally in the effort to contain avian influenza, which is now considered endemic in a number of Asian nations.
The International Partnership for Avian and Pandemic Influenza, launched by President Bush in September has the support of almost 90 nations, and the major international organizations involved with health and agriculture. (See related article.)
In the few months since formation of the partnership, there’s been “a dramatic difference in heightened awareness” of other nations, Rock said, and recognition of the potential threat of pandemic flu, arising from the occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Asia for the last two years, the most serious and widespread series of outbreaks ever seen.
Rock said the international discussion of pandemic also has brought on a greater dialogue between ministries of public and animal health in many countries. A key action to prevent pandemic will be greater surveillance of disease amongst animals and humans with recognition of how their close contact can result in an exchange of viruses and exposure to previously unknown diseases.
COMPENSATION
The ongoing appearance of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in domestic poultry in Asia and now in some European countries has led to the deaths and culling of more than 150 million birds. These losses can be a serious economic hardship for small farmers on the verge of poverty.
Congressman Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, questioned administration representatives about whether the international avian flu policy recognizes the importance these animals can play in the lives of rural people in the developing world.
“What are we doing to help substitute protein in diet of poor people?” after their birds are culled, McCollum asked. She said a broad outbreak of avian influenza in Africa could have unforeseen affects upon vulnerable populations there.
U.S. Agency for International Development Agency Assistant Administrator Kent Hill said compensation for poor farmers asked to cull their birds is an important issue. It is feared that farmers might hide disease in their flocks to save their investment, an action that could cause the virus to spread farther.
“One idea is to replace culled chickens with vaccinated chicks,” said Hill, explaining that U.S. and international officials are considering a number of ideas to contend with this problem. They also are hoping for cooperation from major international poultry producers who would help provide replacement animals.
The administration’s strategy for addressing avian and pandemic influenza will undergo further scrutiny from the Congress, but it is apparent that many lawmakers agree with the premise that rapid action is necessary.
“Not war, not peace, not terrorism,” said Iowa’s Republican Congressman James Leach. “The greatest issue of our time is the vulnerability to disease.”
CHINA REPORTS MORE DISEASE
The World Health Organization confirmed reports of more human cases of H5N1 in China December 7. A10-year-old girl in the southern province of Guangxi is under hospital care for symptoms of fever, cough and pneumonia that developed on November 23.
This child is the fourth human case of disease in China; two cases have been fatal.
Human cases of H5N1 have been reported in China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, a total of 135 cases as of December 8, 69 resulting in death.
In almost all cases, disease has been traced to contact with sick birds, indicating the virus does not have the capability to be transmitted efficiently between humans. However, if it does develop that capability, health officials warn of pandemic because of the lack of human immunity to this type of flu virus.
For ongoing coverage of U.S. and international efforts to combat avian influenza, see Bird Flu.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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