Fact Sheet: United States International Engagement on Avian and Pandemic Influenza

[There is an updated version of this fact sheet dated September 21, 2006, located at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/scp/2006/72923.htm]

The United States is working with countries around the world and key international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to assist in preparedness for, surveillance against, and response to the threat of avian influenza and a human pandemic. Following are the highlights of international actions taken by various agencies of the U.S. Government to address this challenge.

PREPAREDNESS

• The United States is funding activities to develop and support national task forces and preparedness plans in at least 46 countries in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other partners.
• U.S. Government agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and the Interior, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), have sent scientists, veterinarians, public-health experts, and emergency managers to affected and at-risk countries to advise and support the development and implementation of emergency plans and procedures for responding to both avian and human influenza outbreaks.
• The U.S. is also coordinating efforts through regional mechanisms. For example, the U.S. is collaborating with Canadian and Mexican counterparts on a comprehensive North American pandemic influenza strategy through the Security and Prosperity Partnership.
• USAID is supporting communication campaigns in 34 countries to inform the general public, as well as high-risk groups such as poultry farmers, about how they can reduce their risk of exposure and infection.

The U.S. contribution of $334 million was the largest cash pledge at the Beijing donors’ conference in January 2006, where the global community pledged $1.9 billion to combat avian influenza worldwide. Our contribution is being used for overseas programs to: Develop national plans; Support development of diagnostics and laboratory capacity; Stockpile protective equipment and emergency health commodities; Conduct international communications campaigns and public outreach activities; Support the work of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organization for Animal Health. Of the $334 million pledged by the United States, $66 million is to be used to develop stockpiles of health supplies to contain human and animal outbreaks. Over $36 million is dedicated to supporting avian and human influenza related activities of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). $41 million is planned for international research.

SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH

• The United States is supporting efforts to develop animal-surveillance early-warning networks and to build diagnostic and laboratory capacity in at least 25 countries to strengthen the ability of at-risk countries to quickly recognize signs of an
  outbreak and confirm the presence of the H5N1 virus.
• USAID is supporting animal and human surveillance efforts in Asia, the Near East, Europe, Eurasia, and Africa. USAID is also supporting community-level, early warning networks in several countries to enhance the ability of affected countries to rapidly detect H5N1 outbreaks in animals and humans.
• In 2004, the United States launched the Influenza Genome Sequencing Project. As of April 10, 2006, genome sequences of 1053 human influenza isolates have been made publicly available. The United States is working with health research organizations around the world to enhance surveillance, detection, and treatment.
• Veterinarians and poultry experts from AI-infected countries are being trained at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa to conduct safe testing of animal specimens.
• At the annual meeting of the Canada/Mexico/U.S. Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management (Trilateral Committee) in May 2006, representatives from all three countries met to coordinate surveillance efforts for the early detection of H5N1in wild birds of North America. The Executive Table of the Trilateral Committee agreed to fund a proposal to hold a workshop to evaluate this year’s surveillance efforts and to enhance field and laboratory capability for wild bird surveillance.

From its pledge of $334 million made at the Beijing donors' conference, the U.S. has thus far provided more than $70 million for AI preparedness and response to affected and at-risk countries, the World Health Organization, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and private-sector partners.   U.S. Agency for International Development $86.6 million Department of Health and Human Services $35 million Department of Agriculture $10.5 million Department of State $1 million

RESPONSE

To date, the United States has deployed over 55,000 sets of personal protective equipment for use by first responders to outbreaks in 22 countries in Asia and the Near East, Europe and Eurasia, and Africa.

The first stockpile of antivirals has been positioned in Asia for potential use in the region in response to a pandemic outbreak.

In cooperation with the WHO, U.S. experts have participated in investigations into human cases of AI in affected countries. We are also providing substantial technical assistance, in cooperation with the FAO, for influenza containment activities
in 20 countries that have experienced animal outbreaks.

The United States is providing expertise and funding to assist the FAO to develop a Crisis Management Center that will
facilitate its ability to mount and coordinate an international rapid response to AI animal outbreaks worldwide, integrated with human surveillance efforts in conjunction with WHO.

The U.S. is working with the FAO to train first responders to contain animal outbreaks and enhance the capacity of affected countries to manage response efforts.

USAID and the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services are also providing material support to affected countries, including laboratory equipment, reagents, sample shipping containers, and personal protective equipment for
veterinarians and field technicians.

The U.S. military is planning military-to-military training and exercises, and is assisting other countries in developing military preparedness and response plans.

June 1, 2006