Asean finalises roadmap on control of bird flu
Regional cooperation in the control and eradication of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) will receive a boost when a roadmap to ensure the attainment of bird-flu free Asean by 2020 is finalised this year.
The concept and work plan in the development of the roadmap was discussed at the First Technical Working Group Meeting on HPAI Roadmap held at the Asean Secretariat on Tuesday (April 27).
The roadmap, which will be finalised for submission to relevant Asean sectoral bodies in late 2010, incorporates several progressive phases and approaches based on lessons learned and ongoing initiatives in the broader context of transboundary animal disease control, multi-sectoral cooperation for health, and One World, One Health frameworks.
"The Roadmap would contribute to regional economic integration towards a single market and production base by 2015 with free flow of animal and livestock products as well as alleviating poverty and enhancing food security in the region," said the deputy secretary-general of Asean for Asean Economic Community, S. Pushpanathan.
Besides ensuring successful control and eradication of bird flu in Asean, the roadmap is also expected to strengthen the sustainable development of livestock; strengthen regional coordination on animal health and zoonoses.
It will also strengthen multi-sectoral cooperation on health related issues in line with the One World, One Health concept; and, strengthen cooperation and partnership with development partners and donor agencies, Pushpanathan said.
The initiative remains critical as the first outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in Asean started in 2003 with no less than 200 million poultry culled leading to economic losses of over US$10 billion to the region's poultry sector.
Despite the successful elimination of H5N1 from poultry in almost all the 63 countries it infected at the peak of the global outbreak in 2006, the virus still persists in five nations, including two Asean member states, namely Indonesia and Vietnam.
