PRESS RELEASE

September 18, 2006

U.S. Mission Hanoi and USAID welcome new partner in fight against avian influenza in South-east Asia

Hanoi – The United States government is providing $1.55 million for a new project to fight avian influenza in Vietnam and Laos.  Through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Regional Development Mission Asia and Abt Associates Inc., a new partner in the regional effort, community-level projects will carry out surveillance and control activities against avian influenza in both countries. 

Working in close collaboration with current USAID partners including the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO), and the Academy for Educational Development (AED), Abt will conduct activities with international non-governmental organizations such as CARE International and Population Services International (PSI) in targeted geographic regions with a high risk of avian influenza outbreaks.  These activities include delivering key prevention messages and implementing strategies to minimize high risk behaviors, working with human and animal health workers to enhance their ability to recognize and report suspected cases, and developing new approaches for enhancing biosecurity on poultry farms. 

Abt is a multi-disciplinary group of dedicated professionals who work closely with local partners to undertake technical assistance, research, analysis, and practical training.  CARE and PSI have extensive experience working on community health and development projects in the region.

Including this project, USAID has provided over $41 million to date for avian influenza activities in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

###