Jakarta Workshop Training Regional Experts to Combat Human Pandemic Influenza

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (1 December 2006) - A workshop opened this week in Jakarta to train an international team of experts to develop more effective rapid international and national responses and national containment strategies to combat human pandemic influenza at its source when it first erupts.

The five-day meeting, which opened on Monday, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by a grant from ADB, is being attended by over 50 technical experts from the region.

The workshop is part of ADB’s initiative – adopted in a grant project valued at US$38 million – to counter the growing threat of avian influenza in the Asia and Pacific region. The project was launched jointly with its partners – WHO, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – in Bangkok, Thailand, in March.

ADB has so far disbursed more than $11 million from the grant project to the ASEAN Secretariat, FAO and WHO. The project aims to help ADB's developing member countries respond efficiently to the avian influenza threat and prepare for a possible human pandemic.

“Experts agree that the most desirable way to address a potentially deadly influenza pandemic from spreading globally is to stop the disease at its source by detecting it swiftly, preventing the illness from spreading to neighboring areas, and treating those affected in the field,” says Dr. Keiji Fukuda of WHO. “WHO is responding to this need by organizing this international workshop on rapid response and containment.”

H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks continue to affect the poultry sector and threaten Asia's progress in reducing poverty, particularly for small farmers and rural households with backyard chickens.

“ADB is committed to carefully coordinating its program and activities with other development partners, such as WHO, to boost efficiency and help governments get the best out of donor assistance,” says Dr. Bindu Lohani, Director General of ADB's Regional and Sustainable Development Department.

“Our support aims at adequately addressing emergency health needs and strengthening cooperation and capacity to address avian influenza and other emerging infectious diseases in the region.”

While it remains primarily an animal disease, human infections with H5N1 virus are appearing, taking a worldwide toll so far of 154 deaths from 258 cases, according to recent WHO figures. During 2006, Indonesia was among the countries most badly affected, with 45 deaths out of 55 cases occurring this year.

Indonesia was thus chosen as the venue for the first regional training sessions because of its extensive first hand experience in dealing with avian influenza outbreaks in a populous and diverse country.

A change in the virus to one that is easily transmissible among humans could trigger a pandemic, which, according to an ADB report, could cause an economic shock that would send the global economy into recession and reduce growth in Asia to near zero.

For further information, please contact:

ADB: Graham Dwyer, External Relations Specialist, Ph.: +63 2 632 5253, cell +63 0920 838 6487, email gdwyer@adb.org

WHO Indonesia: Sari Setiogi, Press Officer, Ph.: +62 21 520 4349, cell +62 811 932 737, e-mail SetiogiS@who.or.id

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