Press Release

June 19, 2006

U.S. Supports A New Public-Private Alliance To Combat Avian Influenza

HANOI, VIETNAM  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced its support for a new public-private alliance to help prevent avian influenza (AI), bringing the total 2006 US Government avian influenza assistance in Vietnam to over $ 7 million.  This new alliance represents a joint effort between USAID, the Government of Vietnam, provincial Sub-Departments of Animal Health, Agronomies and Veterinaires Sans Frontiers (AVSF), Pfizer Animal Health Group, Synbiotics, Evilais, Proconco and other agricultural businesses.
 
When incidents of AI were increasing in Vietnam, the needs of the people affected were urgent, the media coverage was frightening, and the response from government and industries swift.   The H5N1 strain demonstrated the capacity to jump the species barrier, from bird to human, causing severe disease - with high mortality - in humans.   Although the H5N1 strain resulted in the deaths of almost half of the 93 cases (42) in Vietnam from 2003 to 2005, this strain of AI has yet to develop the capacity for efficient human-to-human transmission.  Six months into 2006, this story about the combined efforts of businesses, the Vietnamese Government, non-governmental organizations and U.S. Government agencies highlights the effective and coordinated responses that are preventing an H5N1 pandemic in Vietnam by containing AI in animals, and limiting its spread among people. 

The assistance that will be provided under this alliance is valued at $185,000.  With a $ 55,000 investment, USAID is leveraging funds provided by the private sector to enhance the global response to the AI threat by supporting efforts to strengthen the capacity of veterinarians and poultry farmers as they work to prevent and control AI outbreaks in Vietnam.

The nine-month project will start by providing support to veterinarians in Thai Nguyen Province to improve their diagnosis of AI, train veterinarians on AI epidemiological processes and tools, upgrade the Government of Vietnam’s animal health information systems, improve the bio-safety measures of small poultry farmers and then provide national dissemination of AI educational materials.  USAID’s AI programs focus on five key objectives for improved readiness and response capacity: planning and preparedness, surveillance, outbreak response, communications, and stockpiling essential supplies and equipment.  The project, a part of USAID’s Global Development Alliance Public-Private Alliance, is just one part of the larger US Government coordinated response to the threat of avian and pandemic influenza.

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