FAO EMERGENCY PROGRAMS: AVIAN INFLUENZA AND THE RISK

UNCLAS ROME 002979

SIPDIS


FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME

STATE FOR IO/EDA, NEA/ENA, EA/SEA, OES/IHA
USAID FOR DCHA, OFDA GGOTTLIEB, PMORRIS, AND GH/DCARROLL
USDA FOR OSEC STUMP/PENN/BUTLER/LAMBERT, FAS
PETTRIE/HUGHES/CLERKIN, APHIS CLIFFORD/DUVERNOY
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH/USAID
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER
USEUCOM FOR ECJ4

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON SENV SOCI TBIO TSPL XB XC XD XE UN FAO OIE WHO
SUBJECT: FAO EMERGENCY PROGRAMS: AVIAN INFLUENZA AND THE RISK
OF EXPANSION

REF: (A) ROME 1142; (B) ROME 0877; (C) STATE 153802


1. Summary. With the potential risk that the Avian Influenza
(AI) deadly sub-virus H5N1 may be transported via the
migratory flyways of wild water fowl from South Asia to the
Middle East and Europe, the activities of the United Nations
(UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to stamp out AI
are receiving much needed attention. On September 2, FAO
Director General Jacques Diouf chaired a briefing on the risk
of AI expansion and preventive measures FAO is taking, and
took the opportunity to launch an emergency appeal for $25
million to build surveillance capacity and research on
wildlife. Earlier that week, USUN Rome staff accompanied
USAID/Global Health's Dr. Dennis Carroll to a meeting with FAO
Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division (TCE) and
Animal Production and Health Division (AGAD) staff to fine-
tune an FAO proposal to strengthen early warning and early
reaction to Avian Influenza outbreaks in Cambodia, Indonesia,
Lao PDR, PR China and Viet Nam. USUN Rome has been covering
FAO's AI activities and will continue to widely disseminate
discussions with FAO. End Summary


2. Background: FAO and its collaborating partners, the World
Health Organization (WHO) and Office International des
Epizooties (OIE, or World Organization for Animal Health),
have been actively involved in a campaign to contain and stamp
out Avian Influenza (AI) in Asia. The three agencies took
collaborative, immediate action since the outbreaks first
occurred in late 2003/early 2004. Among their many efforts,
joint guidelines and recommendations were issued on the
control of AI, and a global framework was launched [FAO/OIE
Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Trans-boundary
Animal Diseases (GF-TADs)].


3. Diouf stated that AI is becoming more a matter of concern
to nations around the globe as the threat of imminent spread
reaches the doorsteps of Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East,
Central Asia and Africa via the complex overlapping of major
migratory bird flyways. The international focus has largely
been on the human side, but Diouf emphasized that up to now,
it has been an animal disease and, therefore, must be stopped
at the source. Diouf noted that WHO has been successful in
garnering "100 percent support" from nations to purchase
preventive equipment on the human health side, but the need
now is for nations to refocus their attention on animals,
ensuring that policy decisions address AI as a problem of
animals. He called upon donors to support FAO activities in
this endeavor.

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The Role of Wild Birds
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4. Dr. Joseph Domenech, Chief, FAO Animal Health Service,
stated that the AI virus has always circulated in wildlife,
but this year's situation is much more significant in that
past precursors have changed with the massive deaths of wild
birds in China. In addition, AI exposure has spread to
Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Animal health experts are


still trying to determine the role wild birds play in the
spread of the disease. What is certain, however, is that wild
birds represent a reservoir for AI viruses. Many of these
birds are migratory and travel long distances, carrying the
threat with them as they cross international borders. In
addition, certain species of ducks carry viruses without
exhibiting any clinical signs of the disease. Because many of
these fowl share common watering sources with poultry in rural
farms, the interaction of the virus and risks of human
transmission are high. Because of migratory patterns, it is
hard to predict which country will be next to report an
outbreak. More information can be found on FAO's Web site at:
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/
subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avi an.html.

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FAO's Current Activities and Emergency Appeal
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5. FAO committed $5 million of its Technical Cooperation
Programme (TCP) funds to assist in the build-up of regional
capacity and surveillance. It launched three networks to
improve diagnosis and disease information in 23 countries.
FAO and OIE continue to work to update international
notification requirements on poultry and fowl. A Geneva-based
OIE expert who was present at the briefing noted the
difficulties in enforcing the reporting requirements on
wildlife: wildlife does not yet affect trade, and thus nations
fail to report problems.


6. FAO took the opportunity with donors to launch an emergency
response appeal for $25 million, which is in addition to the
$100 million that FAO will need for its three-year phased
disease control program. The emergency fund will cover
research on and surveying of wildlife; mobilization of the
OIE/FAO Avian Influenza Network (OFFLU); increased national
emergency preparedness and laboratory upgrading and regional
coordination in South Asia, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia
and Eastern Europe through various regional organizations;
and, under the OIE/FAO GF-TADs, increased international
coordination, including the development of the Global Early
Warning System (GLEWS) to enable better analysis and disease
intelligence. The emergency operations funding mechanism is
being used as nimble way for FAO to launch within 24 hours an
emergency response in an affected country.

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USAID Support to FAO and USG Global Plan
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7. On August 31, preliminary discussions with USAID/Global
Health's Dr. Dennis Carroll and FAO Emergency Operations and
Rehabilitation Division (TCE) and Animal Production and Health
Division (AGAD) staff culminated with the fine-tuning of an
FAO proposal to strengthen early warning and early reaction to
AI outbreaks in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, People's Republic of
China and Viet Nam. Of the $25 million appropriated to USAID
and HHS/CDC in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act
for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief of


2005, Dr. Carroll stated that a down payment of $6 million
will go to FAO as a prime implementing partner for activities
related to animal heath.


8. Dr. Carroll expounded that, in July 2005, he visited
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, three of the highest-risk
countries for H5N1 outbreaks, as part of a USG interagency
team (USAID, USDA, State and HHS/CDC),to investigate existing
platforms and determine what has been done nationally and
regionally to counter the spread of AI. The team was
impressed by FAO's strong and demonstrated presence in
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and its active regional program in
Bangkok, which will provide an opportunity for the immediate
role-out and expansion of activities in adherence to the USG's
global plan to build on existing platforms.


9. Since the $25 million appropriation in June 2005, the USG's
global plan has been adapted to respond to country specific
needs. This revised plan, entitled "U.S. Government Emergency
Response to Avian Influenza," outlines country specific lines
of action to be supported by the U.S. over the coming year;
identifies implementing and technical assistance partners; and
provides a country-specific budget through September 2006.
Three key "operating principles" were used in developing these
country-specific plans:

-- Focus on activities that could contribute immediately to
the containment of H5N1;

-- Build on already existing platforms and capabilities; and

-- Promote a comprehensive and well-coordinated response
covering animal and human infection.


10. USUN Rome will continue to cover and widely disseminate
information on FAO AI activities.

HALL


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2005ROME02979 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED