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UN bird flu chief wants $1.5 bln to fight virus

Posted on: Monday, 16 January 2006, 09:24 CST

By Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - The senior U.N. coordinator for avian and human influenza will press for $1.5 billion to be pledged at a donor conference opening on Tuesday, arguing that the battle against the bird flu is far from over.

The World Bank aims to raise $1.2 billion at the conference in Beijing to battle a virus that has killed 79 people since late 2003, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures, but David Nabarro said he would like to see more.

"To be asking the world to invest $1.5 billion, which is the total I would like to see, to be asking for that sort of money, is really a very small amount in comparison with the total cost to the world of a pandemic," he told Reuters in an interview.

"We can't at this stage say that the situation globally is under control. However, I have seen a great increase in the intensity with which countries are tackling avian influenza."

The two-day meeting, sponsored by the World Bank, the European Union and the Chinese government, will also hammer out a strategy against bird flu to stop the deadly H5N1 virus triggering a human pandemic that could kill millions.

"Certainly, in the event of a human influenza pandemic, more will be required," the Briton said.

Nabarro, a former senior WHO official named by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the post last year, said he thought it was unlikely the full amount he wants will be pledged because of competing demands, such as natural disaster relief.

"It's just that when we are in a world where there are so many different demands for resources, it's quite hard to push the system to deliver the kind of level you want," he said.

The World Bank approved a $500 million line of credit last week, and the European Union has pledged $100 million in aid.

GATES OF EUROPE

The virus is already endemic across parts of Asia. Human victims had been confined to East Asia until recently, when at least three infected children died in Turkey, bringing the virus to the gates of Europe and the Middle East.

Nabarro said he could not say where bird flu would crop up next, though he thought migrating birds could bring it to Africa.

"Until we stop seeing these new outbreaks of avian influenza we cannot say that we have the situation under control, and that means we must stay vigilant," he said.

Migrating birds are thought to be responsible for the spread of the virus between regions, although the transport of live poultry -- likely to increase in China and Vietnam during Lunar New Year holidays in late January -- could also play a role.

China is seen as a key battleground because it is home to the world's biggest poultry population, the bulk of which live in backyard farms with close contact with people.

The money will be aimed at improving health and veterinary services in developing countries grappling with outbreaks, and strengthening surveillance programs in areas not yet affected.

Representatives from 89 countries, both aid donors and recipients, will attend the conference, along with delegates from more than 20 international organizations, including the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Nabarro said now was the time to prepare to fight bird flu if it does turn into a pandemic.

"Let's make sure that we don't get overly predictive and instead stress to every country in the world, get prepared for the bird flu, get prepared for the human flu," he said. "Avian influenza is not the only condition that is likely to shift from the animal population to humans. There will be others as well."

Source: REUTERS

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