Avian Influenza and the Pandemic Threat

(UNITED NATIONS, New York 21 October) The United Nations and the World Bank report that most countries are planning for an influenza pandemic, but officials worry that many plans have not been tested and may well fail once the next influenza pandemic starts. Coming on the heels of a World Bank study suggesting that the economic cost of a pandemic could top a staggering $3 trillion, this continuing lack of preparedness remains a cause for concern.

Humanity faces many challenges that require global solutions. One of these challenges is the spread of infectious diseases that emerge (or re-emerge) from the interfaces between animals and humans and the ecosystems in which they live. This is a result of several trends, including the exponential growth in human and livestock populations, rapid urbanization, rapidly changing farming systems, closer integration between livestock and wildlife, forest encroachment, changes in ecosystems and globalization of trade in animal and animal products.

The 2008 UN-World Bank Global progress reports on responses to highly pathogenic avian influenza and the state of pandemic influenza readiness is now available.

Place : videoconference
Organization : EINet
Agenda : For more information please visit this link.
Participation :-
Focus :Pandemic
Coverage :Regional

*Date and Time: Evening hours of 29 May in the Americas and in the morning hours of 30 May in Asia, for approximately 5 hours (Friday, May 30, 2008 at 01:00-06:00 Coordinated Universal Time).

Place : Washington DC, US

Organization : The U.S. Government
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/scp/2005/55972.htm

Agenda :
- Elevate the avian influenza issue on national agendas;
- Coordinate efforts among donor and affected nations;
- Mobilize and leverage resources;
- Increase transparency in disease reporting and the quality of surveillance; and
- Build local capacity to identify, contain and respond to an influenza pandemic.

Participation : -

Focus : Avian Flu in Human and Pandemic

Coverage : Regional