Statement On Avian Influenza From Randall L. Tobias, Director Of U.S. Foreign Assistance And USAID Administrator

In the past year, the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus moved rapidly outside of Southeast Asia and spread into Europe, Eurasia, and Africa. The disease has been
detected in 53 countries and threatens to derail the significant progress
we have made in international development.



Globally, the disease has borne a tremendous toll. It has already cost
governments and private industries billions of dollars, and caused the
death or destruction of at least 220 million birds, hurting agribusiness,
trade, and opportunities for economic growth. To date, it has also infected
247 humans in 10 countries; almost 60 per cent of these cases have been
fatal.



In addition to loss of life, avian influenza and the risk of a pandemic
pose enormous challenges to global stability. Without aggressive measures
to help build preparedness and response capacity in developing countries,
the disease could proliferate into a pandemic capable of overwhelming even
the most sophisticated healthcare and governmental systems. The
international community must remain committed to fighting avian influenza
by providing assistance to developing countries to prepare for and respond
to a possible pandemic.



The U.S. Government is providing emergency assistance and preparedness
planning to 53 countries through support to international organizations,
including the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health
Organization, foreign governments, private-sector partners, and in-country
organizations. With the funds announced today, USAID's total avian
influenza commitment is $191 million. These funds will strengthen
preparedness, surveillance and response efforts in countries around the
world.



The U.S. is training first responders to learn how to use personal
protective equipment, collect and ship samples, detect disease using
improved laboratory equipment, and provide emergency response to outbreak
situations. To protect frontline field workers so they do not contract or
spread the virus, USAID has deployed approximately 93,000 personal
protective equipment (PPE) kits to 66 countries this year, and is building
a stockpile of 1.5 million protective kits, 100 lab kits, and 15,000
decontamination kits for use by surveillance and outbreak-response workers.



The avian influenza virus is a major global challenge that is
threatening livelihoods as well as economic and social stability,
especially in countries with developing infrastructures. With our continued
international engagement, as with the International Partnership on Avian
and Pandemic Influenza, we can be best prepared to address the challenges
presented by avian influenza and the threat of a pandemic. The global
community must remain vigilant and committed to fighting the virus.



U.S. Agency for International Development

usaid/