on July 28

New Delhi,July 24 (UNI) Ministers of Health and griculture/Livestock from nine Asian countries would meet here on July 28 to discuss Avian Influenza control and pandemic preparedness in Asia.

Eight countries from WHO's South East Asian region including India and China would participate in the conference being organised jointly by the Indian government, the World Health Organisation in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The objective of the conference are to combat the great threat to global health and security, to review the situation on Avian Influenza and the risk of a pandemic, to share mechanism for integrated and multi sectoral response at the national level and to strengthen inter-country collaboration for effective action against the pandemic threat.

Health Minister Anmbumani Ramadoss and Agriculture Minsiter Sharad Pawar, along with WHO Regional Director Samlee Pilanbangchang would inaugurate the conference. A Delhi Declaration on Avian Influenza would be adopted in presence of Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

The US government is providing financial and technical assistance to support the conference. The US Department of Health and Human Services today gave a grant of 50,000 dollars (Rs 23 lakh) for the conference. Mr Geoffrey R Pyatt, Charge d' Affaires of the US Embassy and Dr Salim J Habayeb, WHO representative in India, signed the grant agreement.The US Agency for International Development has also provided 50,000 dollars to the WHO for this conference.

The outbreaks of Avian Influence reported in Asia, Europe and Africa in recent years have been unprecedented in terms of their geographical scope, spread and consequences. They have resulted in substantial poultary deaths as well as the culling of more than 200 million poultry with huge economic loss to the affected countries.

Never before have these countries so widely affected by the disease and with an impact on poultry farmers and household as well as the poultry industry, tourism and trade.

Recent events in Indonesia clearly highlighted the threat of Avian Influenza virus infection to poultry and to human beings. Many countries in the South East Asia Region are on the flight paths of migrating birds, some of which may be carrying the Avian Influenza virus. In view of the epidemiological situation, all countries in the region are vulnerable to the influenza pandemic.

UNI AJ VD DS1650