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Red Cross Seeks $13.7 Million to Combat Bird Flu

Posted on: Thursday, 20 April 2006, 07:25 CDT

GENEVA -- The world's largest disaster relief agency appealed on Thursday for 17.4 million Swiss francs ($13.7 million) to train tens of thousands of Red Cross volunteers to shore up defenses against any bird flu pandemic.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said west and central Africa were "particularly vulnerable" if the H5N1 virus began to spread amongst humans, because healthcare services there were often weak.

Experts including U.N. bird flu coordinator David Nabarro have said Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are a key frontline partner in gearing up preparedness against a pandemic.

"A crucial part of the International Federation's response will be to specially train 50,000 volunteers and staff to respond to the specific nature of the crisis," the Federation said in a statement.

Among the more than two dozen countries where the Federation is already preparing to respond to avian flu are China, Iraq and North Korea, according to the statement.

The H5N1 avian flu virus has spread quickly in recent months, and has been reported in 42 countries across Asia, Europe and parts of Africa.

The disease is known to have killed 110 people and infected 196 since 2003, according to the World Health Organization.

Bird flu remains primarily an animal disease, but experts say the virus could acquire the ability to pass rapidly from human to human and could kill millions of people in a pandemic.

The Federation, which links 183 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, mobilized teams of volunteers during the epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed some 800 people in 2003.

National authorities have the primary responsibility to address the threat of avian flu, it said.

"However, there is significant concern that national preparedness plans may not adequately take vulnerable groups into account or that their outreach capacities to communities are not sufficient," it said.

Red Cross and Red Crescent societies would also help with public awareness campaigns on handling poultry, early detection of human cases and education on hygiene measures, it said.

To date, the agency has spent some 700,000 Swiss francs ($551,600) from its emergency fund to support its members.

Source: REUTERS

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