Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - “H5N1 virus: for a world strategy”: is the title-programme of an international meeting in Geneva to co-ordinate an action plan to counter the lethal avian flu virus H5N1, which threatens to unleash a devastating pandemic of flu among humans.
The international summit organised by the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the World Bank will bring together about 400 experts of government and non government organisations, representatives of nations and industry to identify and plan scientific and preventative plans to fight bird flu and ward off a possible human pandemic. The meeting follows a series of regional and international meetings on the subject and only days after a meeting of experts in Geneva, 2-3 November to discuss the development of a vaccine.
Participants will discuss measures to fight avian flu, how to deal with an eventual human pandemic, and mobilisation of funds. Scientists and representatives of institutions will address various topics including, early identification of outbreaks of the disease among birds, improving monitoring system non existent in many countries, patents for anti-viral medicines and plans to deal with an eventual pandemic.
Developed countries have the means to intervene, but other countries do not. Hence the need to have a detailed world plan, monitoring, diagnosis, vaccination
Bird flu struck south east Asia in 2003 and killed over 150 million birds. Cases of human contagion have been rare (122 in four Asian countries including 62 lethal). The virus is spreading and has reached Europe increasing fears that it may change and infect humans and spread rapidly from person to person.
At present researchers in at least in ten different countries are working in a vaccine to counter the virus H5N1. (AP) (7/11/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:32; Parole:376)
