The world has launched an emergency strategy against avian influenza at a meeting that concluded yesterday in Geneva, while the Global Avian Influenza Fund has reached $1 billion after numerous organizations pledged to support Asian countries in the race to prevent a pandemic.
Yesterday, a three-day avian influenza meeting organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) concluded in Geneva with a comprehensive strategy to combat avian influenza.
This strategy includes: enhancing control of H5N1 spread in poultry, strengthening disease early warning systems, expanding laboratory networks, and ensuring access to vaccines and antiviral medications for everyone. Additionally, governments are urged to develop their own action plans and to increase public awareness regarding the risks of the disease.
At the meeting, Geert van der Linden, Vice President of the World Bank, announced that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would increase its contribution by an additional $300 million to support financially and technically the poorer Asian countries in the fight against the H5N1 virus. This funding will assist medium-term loan projects in China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, should these countries request it. This will be an additional contribution after the ADB had previously committed $170 million for short-term objectives such as monitoring poultry populations in Asia.
Last week, the World Bank (WB) stated it is “ready” to provide $500 million to poor countries to combat avian influenza, along with an additional $30 million contributed to an initiative by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the OIE aimed at veterinary solutions. However, it remains unclear how these commitments will be realized.
During the meeting, the WB assessed that the global community needs $1 billion to prepare for a pandemic, not including the costs for vaccines, stockpiled medications, and compensation for farmers. To outline specific actions, donor countries will hold another meeting early next year in Beijing.
The meeting also reported that, for the immediate future, the world requires $35 million for emergency measures.
THÙY LINH (According to Reuters, AP)
