US, UN to cooperate in fighting Avian Flu

Washington, Mar 16 (UNI) US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has signed an agreement with the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) calling for coordinated technical assistance to address avian influenza and other issues important to agriculture.

''The agreement is intended to enhance the worldwide response to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza and help protect international agricultural systems,'' Mr Johanns said.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza often is fatal in poultry and the H5N1 strain of the disease is spreading rapidly in some parts of the world.

As part of the agreement, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently is hosting a workshop on avian influenza. Fifty experts from more than 15 countries who specialise in avian influenza epidemiology, surveillance, detection and safety will attend the workshop.

The USDA is also planning, with the FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), an international workshop, to be held in April in Rome on public awareness initiatives aimed at helping to prevent the further global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

USDA, FAO and OIE will release educational videotapes and digital video discs this year to provide information on diagnosing avian influenza -- also known as bird flu -- vaccinations, and establishing programs to compensate poultry farmers and processors, if bird flu affects their flocks.

As part of the framework of the agreement, reached in late 2006, an international Crisis Management Centre was established in Rome.

Operated by FAO in collaboration with the OIE and the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), the centre deploys resources where needed to prevent animal diseases and coordinate global disease response efforts.

Three USDA specialists currently are assigned to the centre, which also receives financial support from USDA.

The US monitors its air, land and sea ports of entry for the illegal introduction into the country of poultry, poultry products and pet birds by smugglers, Mr Johanns said.

The smuggling intervention effort also is directed at mail facilities, markets, warehouses and restaurants, he said.

In 2007, the US will launch a national public awareness campaign that will focus on the threat of introducing highly pathogenic bird flu through smuggled poultry, Mr Johanns said.

Precautionary efforts include monitoring and testing wild, migratory birds that can carry influenza into the US.

The US also is expanding its educational campaign focusing on educating poultry farmers and exotic bird enthusiasts to recognise the warning signs of the disease and report sick or dead birds, the agriculture secretary said.

Another US precautionary effort is monitoring and testing poultry sold at live bird markets for both low- and high-pathogenic bird flu, Mr Johanns said.

In 2007, this effort will expand to include coordinated sampling and information sharing with neighbors Canada and Mexico, Mr Rick Kearny, of USDA's Agricultural Research Service.

Low-pathogenic avian influenza is monitored because it has the potential to mutate into a high-pathogenic strain of the disease.

UNI