WHO: Bird flu remains No. 1 global health threat

[AlaskaDenise]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500AP_WHO_Bird_Flu.html

Sunday, September 17, 2006 · Last updated 10:40 a.m. PT
WHO: Bird flu pandemic risk still high
By MARGIE MASON
AP MEDICAL WRITER

<!--BEGIN ARTICLE--><!--IMAGE--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=230 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=10></TD><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width=10></TD><TD>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]The U.N.'s Chief for Bird Flu, David Nabarro speaks to reporters during a press briefing Sunday Sept. 17, 2006 in Singapore. Africa and East Asia, especially Indonesia and China, are particularly at risk for bird flu outbreaks despite progress in combatting the disease in many countries, World Bank and U.N. experts said Sunday.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--END IMAGE-->
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The risk of a flu pandemic remains high despite possible public fatigue with the issue, but the World Health Organization is hopeful the bird flu virus will do less damage than in past years during Asia's upcoming colder months, an official said Sunday.

"The virus seems to be very embedded in the environment and, in our view, the risk of a pandemic continues unabated," Richard Nesbit, WHO's acting regional director for the Western Pacific, told reporters prior to a weeklong meeting in Auckland, New Zealand.

"Recently, we've seen new outbreaks in poultry in Cambodia and also in Thailand, besides seeing continuing outbreaks in Indonesia," he said.

Bird flu is expected to be one of the top items discussed for the third straight year at the annual WHO regional meeting, which helps set the organization's strategic agenda. The H5N1 virus has killed at least 144 people since it began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003, and experts worry more fatalities will emerge as the cooler months approach.

Nesbit said he's encouraged by the progress Vietnam has made in beating back the virus. The communist country has recorded the second-highest number of fatalities after Indonesia, but has not detected a human case since November 2005. Vietnam has credited its success to a mass vaccination campaign of poultry and strong political will.

"I think that we've made a lot of effort in building up capacity in other countries, so I'm also hopeful that we will see a much improved situation (and) that we will not get human cases," he said of the cooler weather, when bird flu outbreaks and human cases are often logged.

Bird flu remains hard for humans to catch, but experts fear the virus could mutate into a new form that spreads easily among people. So far, most human cases have been traced to contact with infected birds, but Nesbit said the public should not lower its guard even though the warning has now become somewhat old.

"The scientists are telling us that the risk is just as present as ever. ... We are seeing continuing evolution of these viruses and that's been very well documented now both in humans but as well also in poultry," he said. "After three years now, I'm sure that many journalists and the public are starting to get tired of the same message that there's a potential global pandemic around the corner, but we have a responsibility to continue to give this message."

In Singapore, officials from the World Bank and United Nations expressed worry on the sidelines of the bank's annual meeting about bird flu in Africa and Asia, particularly China and Indonesia.

Last week, David Nabarro, the U.N.'s point man on bird flu, said he would push for donors to give more money to help Indonesia, which has been hit by a string of bird flu cases and has become the worst-hit nation with 49 human deaths.

The WHO meeting in New Zealand, attended by 37 countries and territories, also will address a number of other major health issues affecting the region, including heart disease, diabetes, AIDS and tuberculosis.

Smoking and alcohol control also will be discussed, along with the migration of health care workers throughout the region.

.<!--END ARTICLE-->

 

[Siam]

WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

From Monsters and Critics.com

Health News
WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic
By DPA
Sep 19, 2006, 19:00 GMT



Wellington - The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday of an increasing threat of an influenza pandemic and said it was imperative that states prepared to deal with it.

It also called for urgent steps to prepare to battle emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

Many countries and areas did not have the required national and local capacities to avoid serious health threats with potential to cause substantial economic and social disruption, the WHO warned in a statement from a regional conference being held in Auckland.

'Many health systems were undermanned and under-resourced when SARS struck, causing great human suffering, enormous fear and staggering economic losses,' Dr Richard Nesbit, acting regional director for the western-Pacific, said.

He said countries should not only have plans to deal with an immediate outbreak but public health officials must focus on the mid- and long-term battle against infectious diseases.

The international health agency noted that a few months after it declared that the SARS outbreak had been contained in July 2003, an outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) hit Asia and has since spread to Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

More than 40 countries had reported outbreaks in either wild or domestic birds, or both, an indication that the virus continued to present a threat, Nesbit said.

'In the early stages of a potential pandemic, it may be possible to stop or delay the spread of the virus by swiftly implementing pandemic influenza rapid response and containment measures,' he said.

'If rapid interventions are successful, the severe adverse health, social and economic consequences expected to result from a pandemic might be prevented.'

Nesbit said the window of opportunity for action was very narrow because rapid globalization, urbanization, and increasing cross-border travel and trade aided the spread of infectious disease.

'Countries and areas must therefore prepare for such an eventuality and develop operational capacities and coordinating mechanisms to swiftly implement rapid containment measures, which also require close regional and international coordination and collaboration,' he said.
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/health/printer_1202889.php

 

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Thank you WHO. We can only hope that the press helps push this into a higher priority.

 

[Siam]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Get ready for worst-case scenario - WHO

20 September 2006

"The World Health Organisation has urged New Zealand and other western Pacific countries to prepare for the worst – a large-scale infectious disease pandemic.

Many western Pacific nations lack the capacity for rapid response and containment which would lessen the blow of a serious health threat, such as an avian influenza pandemic, WHO said in a statement yesterday.


The organisation is holding its annual regional meeting in Auckland this week.

Dr Richard Nesbit, acting director for WHO in the western Pacific, said the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) illustrated the need for swift action in the event of a pandemic.

"Many health systems were under-manned and under-resourced when Sars struck, causing great human suffering, enormous fear and staggering economic losses."

A few months after WHO declared the containment of Sars in July 2003, an outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) hit Asia and has since spread to Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

http://www.upi.com/HealthBusiness/view.php?StoryID=20060919-093527-5957r
_________________

 

[hawkeye]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Will this plea wake the countries up? I'm starting to think that its all being viewed as "crying wolf", at least until the WHO can state "the pandemic will occur on this date...you must be ready by this date"

-hawkeye

 

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Hawkeye, this is an unambiguous statement. Surely someone will sit up and take notice? But then they haven't thus far, have they?

 

[Nancy]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Another report on this same meeting (This reporter highlights the hope expressed that the problem will be less severe this winter):

Risk of Bird Flu Pandemic Still High, WHO Warns
By Margie Mason
AP
09/18/06 10:00 PM PT

Officials with the World Health Organization warn that the risk of a bird flu pandemic remains relatively high, despite possible public fatigue with the issue. The agency is hopeful the virus will do less damage during Asia's upcoming colder months than it has in past years; however, experts also fear the virus could mutate into a new form that spreads easily among people.

The risk of a bird flu pandemic remains high despite possible public fatigue with the issue, but the World Health Organization is hopeful the bird flu virus will do less damage than in past years during Asia's upcoming colder months, an official said Sunday.

"The virus seems to be very embedded in the environment and, in our view, the risk of a pandemic continues unabated," Richard Nesbit, WHO's acting regional director for the Western Pacific, told reporters prior to a weeklong meeting in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Outbreaks
"Recently, we've seen new outbreaks in poultry in Cambodia and also in Thailand, besides seeing continuing outbreaks in Indonesia," he said.

Bird flu is expected to be one of the top items discussed for the third straight year at the annual WHO regional meeting, which helps set the organization's strategic agenda. The H5N1 virus has killed at least 144 people since it began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003, and experts worry more fatalities will emerge as the cooler months approach.

Nesbit said he's encouraged by the progress Vietnam has made in beating back the virus. The communist country has recorded the second-highest number of fatalities after Indonesia, but has not detected a human case since November 2005. Vietnam has credited its success to a mass vaccination campaign of poultry and strong political will.

"I think that we've made a lot of effort in building up capacity in other countries, so I'm also hopeful that we will see a much improved situation [and] that we will not get human cases," he said of the cooler weather, when bird flu outbreaks and human cases are often logged.

Bird flu remains hard for humans to catch, but experts fear the virus could mutate into a new form that spreads easily among people. So far, most human cases have been traced to contact with infected birds, but Nesbit said the public should not lower its guard even though the warning has now become somewhat old.

Same Old Message?
"The scientists are telling us that the risk is just as present as ever. ... We are seeing continuing evolution of these viruses and that's been very well documented now both in humans [and] in poultry," he said. "After three years now, I'm sure that many journalists and the public are starting to get tired of the same message that there's a potential global pandemic around the corner, but we have a responsibility to continue to give this message."

In Singapore, officials from the World Bank and United Nations expressed worry on the sidelines of the bank's annual meeting about bird flu in Africa and Asia, particularly China and Indonesia.

Last week, David Nabarro, the U.N.'s point man on bird flu, said he would push for donors to give more money to help Indonesia, which has been hit by a string of bird flu cases and has become the worst-hit nation with 49 human deaths.

The WHO meeting in New Zealand, attended by 37 countries and territories, also will address a number of other major health issues affecting the region, including heart disease, diabetes, AIDS and tuberculosis. Smoking and alcohol control also will be discussed, along with the migration of healthcare workers throughout the region.

? 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
? 2006 ECT News Network. All rights reserved.

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story...Bird-Flu-Pandemic-Still-High-WHO-Warns.xhtml#

 

[Nancy]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

What's interesting is how each of these three reporters have come away with such different impressions of what was said, as if they each heard what they wanted to hear. Shannon, I see no reason to think that people will take this any more seriously than they have in the past. After all, these are just remarks at a conference, not an official WHO statement (yes?? - I looked at the WHO site and noted nothing new). People will continue to hear what they want to hear or believe what they already believe and are comfortable with, and find internal reasons to filter out the rest.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

I can't help thinking...the longer it takes for BF to go pandemic...the less prepared the world will be...especially if it errupts (exponential)...opposed to a slow build-up.

 

[Siam]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

What's interesting is how each of these three reporters have come away with such different impressions of what was said, as if they each heard what they wanted to hear. Shannon, I see no reason to think that people will take this any more seriously than they have in the past. After all, these are just remarks at a conference, not an official WHO statement (yes?? - I looked at the WHO site and noted nothing new). People will continue to hear what they want to hear or believe what they already believe and are comfortable with, and find internal reasons to filter out the rest.

Nancy on the who website they are saying the same. http://www.wpro.who.int/rcm/en/rc57/press_releases/pr_20060919.htm
I think we should be taking this very seriously.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Are there more "official warnings" of this magnitude occurring lately? For instance:
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10623

-hawkeye

 

[Siam]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Press releases

WHO urges Member States to be prepared for a pandemic
Fifty-seventh session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific - 18 to 22 September 2006, Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand, 19 September 2006?The increasing threat from emerging infectious diseases makes it imperative that countries prepare for rapid response and containment activities and for a worst-case scenario such as an influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised today.

In addition to taking urgent steps to prepare for an immediate response to emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), public health officials also must focus on the mid- and long-term battle against these diseases, the international health agency said.

Many countries and areas do not have the required national and local core capacities in place, such as rapid response and containment activities, to avoid serious health threats, which have the potential to cause substantial economic and social disruption.

"Many health systems were undermanned and under-resourced when SARS struck, causing great human suffering, enormous fear and staggering economic losses," said Dr Richard Nesbit, WHO acting Regional Director for the Western Pacific.

In response to these needs, the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, WHO's governing body in the Western Pacific Region, today endorsed the recommendations of the Technical Advisory Group on the Implementation of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED). The Regional Committee, composed of Member States in the Western Pacific, is meeting here to review WHO's work in the Region and to plan for the future.

APSED serves as a road map for countries and areas to strengthen core capacities for effective preparedness, prevention, early detection and rapid response to emerging infectious diseases. The Strategy was jointly developed by the WHO Regional Offices for South-East Asia and the Western Pacific.

The Regional Committee also urged Member States to use the Strategy as a stepping stone towards the effective implementation of the revised International Heath Regulations, also known as IHR (2005). These regulations set out new obligations for the notification, verification, assessment of and response to significant public health threats. Although the IHR (2005) does not enter into force until June 2007, countries and areas in the Region have been requested to comply immediately and on a voluntary basis with provisions relevant to the risk posed by avian influenza and pandemic human influenza.

A few months after WHO declared the containment of SARS in July 2003, an outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) hit Asia and has since spread to Africa, Europe and the Middle East, an indication that the virus continues to present a threat. To date, more than 40 countries have reported outbreaks in either wild or domestic birds, or both.

The continuing threat of emerging diseases means that WHO Member States and the international community must mobilize resources necessary for strengthening country capacity, Dr Nesbit said.

"In the early stages of a potential pandemic, it may be possible to stop or delay the spread of the virus by swiftly implementing pandemic influenza rapid response and containment measures," Dr Nesbit said. "If rapid interventions are successful, the severe adverse health, social and economic consequences expected to result from a pandemic might be prevented."

The window of opportunity for action is very narrow because rapid globalization, urbanization, and increasing cross-border travel and trade can aid the spread of infectious disease. Dr Nesbit said: "Countries and areas must therefore prepare for such an eventuality and develop operational capacities and coordinating mechanisms to swiftly implement rapid containment measures, which also require close regional and international coordination and collaboration."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information and/or request for interviews, please contact:
Mr Peter Cordingley, WHO spokesman, at (+63) 918 9631564 or email: cordingleyp@wpro.who.int
Ms Marilu Lingad, assistant/Public Information Office, at (+63) 918 918 1094; New Zealand mobile 021059677 or email: lingadm@wpro.who.int

 

[Marcie]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

This is the first paragraph in the press release on the W.H.O. website:

The increasing threat from emerging infectious diseases makes it imperative that countries prepare for rapid response and containment activities and for a worst-case scenario such as an influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised today.

I would like to see this on the W.H.O. website:
The increasing threat from emerging infectious diseases makes it imperative that individuals prepare for extensive wide-spread social disruption in a worst-case scenario, such as for an influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised today.

(If you think this to strongly worded, go to the CDC website http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html#social and read what they say individuals and families should be planning for.)

Then, I would like to hear this out of Peter Jennings mouth on the evening news:

"The increasing threat from emerging infectious diseases makes it imperative that individuals prepare for extensive wide-spread social disruption in a worst-case scenario, such as for an influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised today.

Government health officials are urging the public to go to the Center for Diseases Control, CDC website at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html#social for complete instructions on preparedness. This will be covered in depth this evening by Ted Koppel on NightLine"

 

[EMTim]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

I think we'd all like to hear something from Peter Jennings again. He died last year.

 

[colormyquilt]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

"I think we'd all like to hear something from Peter Jennings again. He died last year."

arty: LOL arty:

Welcome EMTim

 

[Marcie]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Good point! When I read the last two posts I was but now I'm LMAO! I don't get my information about the goings on in the world from the evening news so I don't know who's dishing it out these days.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Welcome EMTim. I liked Peter Jennings too.

 

[Siam]

WHO: 'Much more must be done to fight bird flu'

WHO: 'Much more must be done to fight bird flu'

'Much more must be done to fight bird flu'


The UN special envoy for avian influenza, David Nabarro, met last week with senior government officials and discussed the problems fighting the disease in the country. He outlined the issues at hand in an interview with The Jakarta Post's Hera Diani.

Question: What was the core of your discussion with Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie?

Answer: This is my fourth visit to Indonesia within a year and I have been working closely with your government to examine ways in which avian influenza in both birds and humans is being tackled. In each visit, I want to find out how the government's response is improving and I've been really very pleasantly satisfied with what I see as a real improvement in the last few weeks, particularly with the way in which the avian influenza is being tackled in poultry.

The discussions with the minister were about the plans for extending this animal health work to other districts, about the government finance, about the compensation payments and how the government is proposing to increase the compensation.

We also talked about the vaccination program for birds and the public information campaign. We agreed to create a detailed plan with an action checklist undertaken by different stakeholders in central government and also at the district level. We will look harder at the resources needed and we will try to make sure that the donor communities respond to the promised increase in government funding with an increase in donor funding as well.

Indonesia's handling of bird flu has been widely criticized. Why do you say you were satisfied?

Well, first of all the changes that I'm describing have occurred quite recently. Secondly, the challenges faced by Indonesia are very big, and it takes time to put in place some of the planning and early development. And thirdly, I'm satisfied that there has been progress, but at the same time there's a lot to be done, particularly by the agriculture ministry. It is important for somebody in my position to speak out about good progress. At the same time, I must stress that there's a lot more that needs to be done to get good quality animal health services in all 444 districts in this country.

Could you elaborate in which areas improvements should be made?

The following activities are necessary. First, it is vital that veterinary personnel in each district are looking out for bird flu cases and responding to them. That means the efficient killing of affected birds and those around them, and reliable vaccinations to try to reduce the spread the disease among birds. It also means compensating those who have lost their birds and making sure that the way the birds are cared for reduces the risk of infection in humans.

These are quite difficult activities to introduce, especially because the political system in Indonesia is very decentralized. We need to increase the level of activities at the provincial or district level. And we know that it is difficult work, so from outside we're expressing solidarity with the government and the people of Indonesia.

The National Committee on Bird Flu Control and Pandemic Preparedness recently said it had not received a single cent from donors. What is your comment?

I think today we were able, in a careful way, to look at the government funding for avian flu and also the way in which the compensation and other activities can be funded. It is clear that there are ways to increase the funding provided by government. I won't go into detail because you have to ask the government about this.

There has also been a lot of funding for Indonesia. It has not all gone exactly where people might be expecting it, and so we have been discussing ways in which the funding will increase. Not as much as we want, but there are perhaps more than US$40 million of additional assistance that is going to be provided in the next few weeks and months.

We've been planning to make more efforts to mobilize even more money from the donors. I need to go to these donors and say "look, Indonesia's program has improved in the last few weeks, so you should put in more because the government is ready to use the money well." It is a continuous process of mobilizing money; you don't do it once and it requires the donors' understanding of what is happening in the country.

The government, on the other hand, has to demonstrate that the money it has is being used well, that there is a need for new money, and it has to have system to spend the money efficiently and without any losses. These things have to be in place to raise cash. You have to have good program and you have to demonstrate it's good, and then the cash will come.

The donors are said to provide funding in the forms of goods and technical assistance instead of money. Is that deliberate?

The avian influenza problem in here is very complicated. And so one of the first requirements is for technical specialists, both Indonesian and international ones, who can study the nature of the problem, and then understand its severity in order to plan the control strategy.

You can't actively research a strategy without having technical people working on these issues. I'm very pleased that there has been a strong technical focus recently. I see that there is a lot more technical expertise here now than there was some months ago.

Is bird flu here getting worse?

One of the things that happens when you improve the surveillance of the country is that you also likely to report more avian flu because you're finding more cases. So, at the moment we're certainly have information that tells us that avian flu is quite widespread in more than 290 districts out of 444.

You should not then say that the situation is getting worse. It's probably because now we know more about this situation. So, I can't tell you if the situation is getting better or worse, but I can tell you that it's a serious situation, which is a concern to me and to others.

 

[Commonground]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Siam, post #9, I went to the site and this is what stood out the most....for me.

"Although the IHR (2005) does not enter into force until June 2007, countries and areas in the Region have been requested to comply immediately and on a voluntary basis with provisions relevant to the risk posed by avian influenza and pandemic human influenza."

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

Re: WHO warns nations to prepare for pandemic

I'm getting that "what do they know that they're not telling us" feeling!

.