December 7, 2005

ASEAN officials discuss bird flu strategies in Jakarta meeting

Health officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Jakarta on Dec 7 to share their strategies and experience in handling infectious diseases such as bird flu, and to plan for regional actions.

Opened by Indonesia's health minister Siti Fadilah Supari, the meeting includes discussions on how to prevent bird flu from spreading to neighbouring countries and how countries can assist each other.

Other participants in the meeting include the ASEAN Secretariat, observers from the WHO and other international organisations.

According to the Indonesian Health Ministry's data, bird flu has infected 11 people and caused the deaths of seven others in the country since July.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.