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Conference of Ministers of Health and
Agriculture/Livestock on Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness in
Asia,
New Delhi, India, 28 July 2006
We, the Health and Agriculture/Livestock Ministers of
Afghanistan, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Kingdom of Bhutan, People’s
Republic of China, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of
Maldives, Union of Myanmar, Nepal, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
and Kingdom of Thailand met on 28 July 2006, in New Delhi, to deliberate on
measures to prevent and control avian influenza and pandemic preparedness in
Asia.
Recognizing the significant public health threat posed by the
emergence of HPAI with pandemic
potential and the severe socio-economic disruption, significant impact of
H5N1 on poultry industry and
livelihood of millions of small farmers including threat to agriculture they
could cause;
Noting the need to be fully prepared in facing the
influenza pandemic and for mounting a coordinated and effective multi-sectoral response;
Being aware of the fact that the pandemic could rapidly
spread across the globe and there would be very little time to act;
Bearing in mind that the continuing outbreaks of avian
influenza in the Regions could be the trigger for an influenza pandemic;
Acknowledging the extraordinary efforts undertaken by
affected countries and international organizations to control avian
influenza;
Recognizing further the need for effective cooperation
between animal health and human health agencies at all levels, within nations
and internationally, for combating emerging zoonoses;
Being aware that effective prevention and control of avian
influenza in poultry and humans requires specific strategies, sustained
efforts, and collaboration at country, regional, and international levels;
Being conscious of the critical role of governments and
international organizations in effectively tackling infectious diseases of
international public health concern, including avian influenza;
Recognizing that economic and health issues may arise with
regard to international travel, trade and tourism with the need to establish
effective multi-sectoral mechanisms to address
these;
Being fully informed of the need for further research in
key areas of animal and human health in response to the constant evolution of
the virus and epidemiology of the disease in humans and animals, and
Being aware of the urgency of taking concrete follow-up
actions against avian influenza,
We hereby commit to:
Develop and/or further strengthen animal and human disease
surveillance and response systems for early detection and prompt containment
of avian influenza and other emerging zoonotic
diseases;
Mobilize required resources to develop, strengthen and
sustain disease surveillance and response systems, including those employed
in the prevention and control of avian influenza;
Improve bio-safety, infection control and bio-security
measures and implement necessary interventions to prevent the spread of
animal diseases such as avian influenza to humans;
Further strengthen regional and international
collaboration on all aspects of avian influenza, including investigation of
cases and outbreaks and efforts at further research in defining the
epidemiological and virological characteristics of
the disease.
Improve risk communication in raising public awareness and
empowering communities to take positive action on prevention and control of
avian influenza, taking into account relevant socio-behavioral, cultural and
economic factors;
Promote collaboration between all institutions and sectors
involved in response to the disease outbreak at local, national, regional and
international levels;
Collaborate and coordinate with all relevant agencies and
sectors in promoting safe animal husbandry practices, trade in animal and
animal products and food safety with the aim of minimizing human health risks
from avian influenza;
Facilitate prompt and open exchange of information on
avian influenza between and among countries and with concerned international
agencies to ensure transparency in reporting and facilitate consultation on
health-related measures of international concern, especially during disease
outbreaks;
Further strengthen and harmonize activities related to all
important aspects of avian influenza, both in animals and humans, including
surveillance, investigation of suspected cases, collection of specimens,
laboratory support and characterization of the virus; determining the
epidemiological aspects of the disease, and defining appropriate public
health responses and other interventions such as appropriate compensation
mechanisms;
Develop a mechanism for inter-country and interregional
collaboration in outbreak investigation and containment, information
dissemination, and strengthening each other’s capacity in responding to avian
influenza and other emerging infectious diseases;
Take necessary steps to update and implement effective
national influenza pandemic preparedness plans involving all the sectors and
stakeholders in the planning and implementation process;
Voluntarily adopt the relevant articles of the
International Health Regulations and suitable national regulatory framework
as a measure of preparedness for influenza pandemic;
Collaborate in efforts to develop and produce drugs,
vaccines and diagnostic tests for avian and pandemic influenza and promote
other appropriate research activities;
In view of the aforementioned, we the Ministers
recognizing the importance of regional initiatives, hereby recommend our
governments and the existing regional fora in Asia, such as, ASEAN and SAARC along with the World
Health Organization(WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) and the
World Organization for Animal Health(OIE) in collaboration with other
relevant international organizations to:
1. Develop
a common framework within which countries could build specific strategies for
prevention and control of avian Influenza and to be prepared for pandemic
influenza threat.
2. Define
uniform standards and monitor their implementation for reducing the risk of
HPAI infection to humans by appropriate control measures of its outbreaks in
poultry and other animals.
3. Share
available knowledge and expertise and also take leadership in the respective
regions in surveillance and outbreak investigation, laboratory support, risk
communication and research, and
4. Further
intensify efforts to make sufficient resources available to address this
public health threat.
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