Avian Flu Threat Requires Investing in Global Public Health

WASHINGTON, Oct 31. /PRNewswire/ — As President Bush prepares to announce his plan to combat the threat of Avian Flu, a group of development organizations are saying a major part of the plan should be helping poor countries cope with the threat. If poor countries are able to respond quickly to an outbreak, chances are greater the disease can be contained before it reaches the US.

The groups (Global AIDS Alliance, Results, Health GAP and Africa Action) released a five-page briefing on Avian Flu, available online at: http://www.globalaidsalliance.org/avian_flu.cfm

“America cannot protect itself without investing in global public health,” said Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. “It is in America’s interest that we ensure countries improve disease surveillance, upgrade health systems, and have full access to necessary medications. Morally and practically, we cannot abandon countries in Africa, Asia and elsewhere to face this threat alone.”

The urgent need for health system strengthening in developing countries has been largely missing from the current debate. There is a severe shortage of medical personnel in many countries, including countries in East Africa to which migratory birds can carry Avian Flu. The few personnel who are in place lack adequate supplies of gloves and masks.

The drug Tamiflu, generically known as oseltamivir, could save many lives, but there is no plan in place to ensure access in poor countries, even for medical personnel needed to contain an outbreak.

“Death and societal disruption from Avian Flu could far exceed that caused by the south Asian Tsunami,” said Dr. Zeitz. “The prospect of medication being effectively restricted to wealthy countries would undermine efforts to contain the virus. It would also be morally intolerable.”

Roche, the maker of Tamiflu (oseltamivir), has offered voluntary sub- licenses to other manufacturers, but the briefing calls this “insufficient.”

“Roche’s offer is ill-defined, delayed, and insufficient, leaving unclear how the drug will be affordable to people in developing countries,” said Dr. Brook Baker of Health GAP. “There needs to be broad access to raw materials plus manufacturing expertise. In addition, the U.S. and other nations at risk should suspend or override patent rights to access cheaper, generic oseltamivir for emergency stockpiles, in both the public and private sector.”

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Dr. Paul S. Zeitz http://profnet.prnewswire.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=485659

Global AIDS Alliance

CONTACT: David Bryden of the Global AIDS Alliance, +1-202-789-0432, ext211, or +1-202-549-3664

Web site: http://www.globalaidsalliance.org/