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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 28, 2004

WHO urges int'l cooperation in fighting avian flu

The World Health Organization (WHO) called for broad collaboration on Tuesday to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several areas in Asia.


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The World Health Organization (WHO) called for broad collaboration on Jan. 27 to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several areas in Asia.

"We haven't found the vaccine of avian flu for human beings for the time being, so it's important to take precautious measures, share information and work in collaboration," said WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib.

The spread of avian flu is a threat to human health and a disaster for agricultural production, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the WHO said in a joint statement.

Although it has not happened yet, the so-called "bird flu" presents a risk of evolving into an efficient and dangerous human pathogen, the three agencies warned.

The possible widespread occurrence of avian flu in animals in developing countries represents a significant control challenge. The FAO, the OIE and the WHO appealed to donors to address the global threat from avian flu and to provide funds and technical assistance to countries to help eliminate this threat.

"With SARS, we learned that only by working together can we control emerging global public health threats," said WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook.

"Now, we confront another threat to human health and we must reaffirm existing collaboration and form new ones. At the international level, WHO, FAO and OIE stand together in close working relationship to provide the necessary guidance to member states," he said.

Avian flu is a threat to public health because, if it circulates long enough in humans and farm animals, there is an increased risk that it may evolve into a pandemic influenza strain which could cause disease worldwide, the WHO said in a press release.

In addition, avian flu is an economic disaster for the poultry industry as well as small poultry farmers.

FAO and the OIE also called for a tight and effective control of animal movement in affected areas.

The threat from avian flu is well understood. Unlike SARS, diagnostic tests already exist, as do effective, although costly, antivirals for humans. While it is challenging, research is already well underway on the development of a human vaccine against the strain, the WHO said.

Source: Xinhua


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