REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON AVIAN FLU TO BE HELD IN VIET NAM

 

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 16 February (FAO) -- The international community needs to step up the battle against bird flu in affected Asian countries in order to avoid a potential global human influenza pandemic, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE).

The virus continues to circulate in poultry, and specifically in wetland ducks in Asia, the FAO and OIE said.  Major efforts are needed to curb the Avian Influenza virus before other regions of the globe are affected.  Countries hit by the H5N1 virus will have to invest more in the control and containment of the disease by improving their animal health and veterinary systems, the two agencies said.  Donor funding is required to support national bird flu campaigns, especially in the poorest countries.

A regional meeting on Avian Influenza in animals in Asia will be held in Ho Chi Minh City/Viet Nam, 23-25 February 2005.

Chief veterinary officers from the region, national scientists, representatives of international and regional organizations and donor representatives will discuss scientific advances, diagnosis, surveillance, prevention and control, rehabilitation and restructuring, trade and international cooperation and human health implications.

The meeting is jointly organized by the FAO and OIE, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam.

The meeting will take place at the Sofitel Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.  Press conferences will be held on the opening and closing days.  The sessions, except for the opening session, are closed to journalists.

Contact:  Erwin Northoff, Information Officer, FAO, e-mail:  Erwin.northoff@fao.org, tel: (+39) 06 570 53105.  For radio interviews, call:  Liliane Kambirigi, Radio Information Officer, tel: (+39) 06 570 53223. Television:  Bou Downes, TV Information Officer, tel: (+39) 06 570 55980/52518.  Editors:  FAO's photo library offers hi-quality images free of charge.  Visit http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/photo/.  Online news from FAO:  http://www.fao.org/newsroom/. FAO media office:  media-office@fao.org.

* *** *