AVIAN INFLUENZA: FAO HOLDS SPECIAL EVENT DURING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 003976

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID SENV SOCI TBIO FAO OIE WHO
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: FAO HOLDS SPECIAL EVENT DURING
FAO CONFERENCE

REF: (A) ROME 3949; (B) ROME 3320; (C) ROME 2979;
(D) ROME 1142


1. Summary. During the 33rd session of the FAO Conference,
FAO hosted a side event on Avian Influenza on November 23rd
(septel on the FAO Conference will be issued shortly). The
aim was to update the membership on recent developments and
the action taken by FAO as well as provide an outline for
future action plans. The event was chaired by Assistant
Director General Louise Fresco, with opening remarks by
Director General Jacques Diouf. Presentations were made by
1) Joseph Domenech, FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer, on the
organization's response to Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI); 2) Cao Duc Phat, Vietnamese Minister for
Agriculture and Rural Development on the situation in
Vietnam; and 3) Harry Paul, Director of Food Quality and
Animal Health, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and
Food Quality, on the Avian Influenza lessons learned in The
Netherlands. End Summary

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Diouf calls for a redoubling of efforts
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2. In his opening remarks, Diouf stated that 150 million
chickens and ducks have died or been culled since late
2003, and the livelihoods of 200 million people who depend
on poultry are at stake. Affected countries in Asia
collectively have lost over $10 billion in revenue. He
made a plea for the international community to redouble its
efforts to stop Avian Influenza in its tracks at its animal
source, noting the importance of the timely reporting of
outbreaks. He stressed the need to collect and share virus
strain information to better understand and control the
disease, noting that FAO and the Office International des
Epizooties (OIE) have jointly appealed to governments to
improve this exchange of information. Diouf stated that,
at a pledging meeting scheduled for January 2006 in
Beijing, FAO and the OIE would reveal a funding plan of up
to $500 million for short and medium term projects over the
next three years. Lastly, he noted that partnerships play
a critical role in stamping out Avian Influenza

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FAO concerned over quality of PRC vaccination campaign
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3. Domenech stated that the situation is evolving rapidly
into an unprecedented crisis, yet efforts are underway
across Asia to control the spread of HPAI. For example,
the People's Republic of China (PRC) has launched a massive
poultry vaccination campaign, although he admitted FAO has
concerns over the quality of this campaign. Although there
have been some cases of outbreaks, the situation in
Thailand has been contained due to the highly effective
campaign led by Thai authorities. Based on the success of
the three sub-regional technical cooperation programs (TCP)
FAO launched in South-East Asia, East Asia and South Asia,
it will launch five more in other sub-regions at risk:
Eastern Europe and the Caucasus; Middle East; North Africa;
West Africa; and Eastern Southern Africa. These TCPs will
form a network of surveillance, information and diagnostic
capabilities.

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Vietnam vaccinating 150 million chickens
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4. Phat stated that Vietnam is focusing much more
attention on surveillance and reporting, and conducting
increased patrols of villages, market places and border
posts. The Government is compensating farmers at $1 per
chicken and approved a national vaccination plan totaling
$15.3 million for 2005-2006. From September to early
November, 100,000 people were deployed to vaccinate 80
million poultry; an additional 70 million poultry will be
vaccinated by year's end. A massive public health
awareness campaign to educate the 8 million households that
maintain between 5-10 chickens is also ongoing. Phat
closed by requesting $150 million over the next five years
to help build up the country's health care infrastructure,
expand training and upgrade bio-security measures.

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Late detection in Netherlands spread disease
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5. Paul stated that the five days it took for the
Government to confirm an H7N7 Avian outbreak in the
Netherlands had far-reaching consequences that could have
been prevented. Nearly 2,000 civilian and military
personnel were deployed in a military-like operation to
destroy 30 million chickens (1/3 of the country's
commercial stock). Of the 600 people tested, 80 tested
positive virologically, and those who became ill contracted
conjunctivitis while one veterinarian died. As a result,
the Government instituted an early warning system, which
includes monitoring egg production operations for signs of
sick chickens, blood-tapping flocks, and a widespread bio-
safety campaign. Paul called for more capacity building
worldwide to stop the disease at its source, more human and
veterinary research and flexibility in responding to this
"moving target," and greater cooperation between the
veterinary industry and the private sector.

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Membership responds
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7. During an open discussion, many FAO member states
expressed support and concern. The U.S. recognized the
important groundwork already laid by FAO and its partner
agencies, and thanked member states for their dedication
and commitment to the International Partnership on Avian
and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI). Canada offered FAO more
coordinated veterinary support, while Norway announced a $1
million contribution to FAO to support the three TCPs in
Asia and another $700,000 to support the joint FAO/WHO
effort to contain Avian Influenza in North Korea. Norway
also welcomed a common UN appeal for burden-sharing among
member states.


8. Sudan stated it had established a ministerial committee
on Avian Influenza and instituted an import ban from
affected countries, and queried whether bans from Europe
should also be instituted (Dr. Paul assured Sudan that
Europe has had cases of low-pathogenic strains and thus
European imports are safe). The United Arab Emirates
reported that laboratories and veterinary services were
being set up or upgraded and an emergency national
committee was also established. The PRC also spoke on the
dozen or so animal disease control measures it had
instituted and suggested establishing a vaccine development
center in-country. Libya stated it had spent Euros 10
million on internal emergency measures thus far. Lastly,
Swaziland expressed its gratitude to FAO for having the
pre-emptive insight to establish three TCPs in Africa,
where Avian Influenza poses the most serious threat due to
the continent's lack of readiness and infrastructure.

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FAO to work with U.S. PVOs to expand surveillance abroad
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9. In a side discussion with FAO staff, USUN-Rome learned
that FAO's liaison office in Washington has held meetings
with OCHA and InterAction to discuss the use of U.S. PVOs
already working in affected countries to expand
surveillance. FAO would provide guidelines and/or training
on early warning signs for infected fowl. Within the next
few weeks, InterAction will submit to FAO a map depicting
where PVO staff from agencies like CARE, CRS, WVI, etc.,
are positioned and FAO will respond as to whether these
placements can be useful to the organization's efforts in
the region. An expected outcome is the expansion of FAO's
NGO networks in the field through these U.S. PVOs. The
FAO/Washington liaison office is also communicating with
U.S. veterinary institutes and schools to establish a
roster of possible veterinarians and consultants, and is a
member of the IBM Steering Committee on Avian Influenza,
which is working to integrate animal and human health data
through data mining.


10. Fresco ended the event with five take-home points: 1)
the key to Avian Influenza control and prevention is on the
animal side; 2) increased awareness equals increased public
communication and risk communication; 3) stronger political
will is needed at all levels; 4) increased resources are
needed for science, technology and research on containing
the spread; and 5) international cooperation is critical.


11. USUN Rome will continue to cover and widely disseminate
information on FAO Avian Influenza activities.

BRAKEL