08 December 2006
United States Helping To Build Flu-Fighting Capacity Overseas
World now better positioned to confront reality of disease, State's Lange says
Bamako, Mali -- The most urgent action the United States can take to fight avian influenza and a potential human pandemic is to strengthen capacity in individual countries and in international and regional organizations, a U.S. official said December 7.
Ambassador John Lange, the State Department’s special representative on avian and pandemic influenza, addressed representatives from more than 20 countries who gathered in Mali at the Fourth International Conference on Avian Influenza to share information and boost financial support for preparedness and response efforts worldwide. (See related article.)
“Our efforts are aimed at urgently building systems that can serve long-term purposes,” Lange said, “and our work and resources are building systems to address not only H5N1, but other highly infectious and zoonotic diseases” -- those that pass from animals to people.
H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain that has reached pandemic level among birds in Asia, causing the deaths of more than 200 million birds. The virus also has been transmitted to people in 10 countries, resulting in 154 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The meeting, hosted by the African Union and Mali in conjunction with the European Union, is the latest in a series of high-level gatherings intended to focus the attention of the international community and galvanize government action.
President Bush announced the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza at the U.N. General Assembly in September 2005, and the international partnership met for the first time in Washington in October 2005. (See fact sheet.)
The meetings held since then have help raise awareness of the pandemic threat and advance international cooperation to mitigate that threat.
“As a result of the global, cooperative nature of our response,” Lange told attendees in Bamako, “the world is now better positioned to confront the reality of the disease -- with better communication programs, improved data sharing and increased public-health preparedness.”
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY
Preparedness for a pandemic requires establishing infrastructure and capacity, Lange said, a process that can take years.
Regarding animal health, the United States seeks to strengthen national veterinary services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided expertise and funding to establish the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Organization for Animal Health Crisis Management Center.
“As the center grows,” Lange said, “it will serve global needs for immediate response support for avian influenza and other zoonotic diseases.”
USDA has trained 500 veterinarians and diagnosticians from 96 affected and high-risk countries in veterinary epidemiology and avian influenza diagnostic protocols to support disease surveillance and control measures. The United States is devoting almost $400 million to bolster preparedness in vulnerable countries.
Through FAO, USAID is developing participatory disease surveillance/participatory disease response teams with the government of Indonesia. The project established 12 pilot districts on Java Island and will expand to 159 districts on Java, Bali and Lampung to enhance rapid response to poultry outbreaks at the district level.
The World Bank will fund districts on Sumatra Island, with AusAid -- the Australian government’s overseas aid program -- funding programs in south Sulawesi Province.
POTENTIAL PANDEMIC
To address a potential human pandemic, the United States is researching and developing vaccines and anti-viral medications and amassing and pre-positioning stockpiles of medical and logistical supplies.
“We are collaborating with international partners to enhance early-warning and clinical surveillance systems,” Lange said, “including building and improving infrastructure at the central, provincial and local levels to provide timely notification of suspected outbreaks.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has given the WHO funding to strengthen its Global Outbreak and Response Network to support surveillance and response in nations worldwide.
The department also established a fund to ensure laboratory specimens are shipped quickly to special “reference” laboratories for further diagnostic work and disease confirmation.
“We are pleased to be working cooperatively with the member states of the African Union, as U.S. government programs for avian influenza and pandemic preparedness continue and expand on this continent,” Lange said.
“We also consider it important,” he added, “for governments to collaborate within their regions on pandemic preparedness.”
In North America, he said, Mexico, Canada and the United States work collaboratively through the Security and Prosperity Partnership to prepare the North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza. (See related article.)
In this plan, chapters will cover pandemic influenza, avian influenza, emergency coordination, borders and transportation, and critical infrastructure protection.
“Preparedness and long-term capacity building requires collaboration on the international, regional, national and community levels,” Lange said. “As this conference demonstrates, global cooperation is essential to global success.”
For ongoing coverage of the disease and efforts to combat it, see Bird Flu (Avian Influenza).
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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