Response to Pandemic Action postcards on Avian Influenza
March 2006
Thank you for your postcard raising your concerns about avian influenza and
the risk of a human pandemic. I recognise the potential threat of the H5N1 avian
influenza virus and we are both monitoring the situation carefully and
supporting international action to tackle the problem.
We are particularly concerned about the impact on developing countries and
are working with others to help developing countries take early and effective
action. At the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic
Influenza, held in Beijing in January, DFID pledged £20 million to multilateral
organisations. We are also considering support from our bilateral programme for
individual countries, while other parts of the UK Government are offering
technical support in their areas of expertise.
In Africa we are providing £1 million to help address avian flu in Ethiopia.
This includes £700,000 to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for
detection and prevention of avian flu and £300,000 to a World Health
Organisation (WHO) pool to prepare for a possible influenza epidemic.
We have also provided £800,000 for Nigeria. As part of this support, we
delivered 15,000 protection kits for the United Nations and Government to use
when in contact with infected birds. We have also agreed to give the World
Health Organisation £500,000 to help the government counter the spread of avian
flu. This will include the training of health commissioners and laboratory
technicians. It will also help to reinforce surveillance systems and set up a
rapid response capacity able to respond quickly to further outbreaks.
This help is intended to assist international organisations and governments
both to tackle the problem of avian influenza, which will reduce the immediate
threat of emergence of a human pandemic virus, and to enhance preparedness for a
possible pandemic. Measures to reduce the spread of the H5N1 virus in birds will
also reduce the risk of the virus spreading to infect people.
As you say, the threat posed by the avian influenza virus requires
coordinated international action. DFID is therefore supporting the work of the
United Nations System Influenza Coordinator and international organisations in
promoting and coordinating an effective international response that recognises
the importance of action in and for the benefit of poorer countries.
I hope this is helpful.
Hilary Benn
Secretary of State for International Development
Useful links
 Back to top
| 
Directgov |
