A Global Threat, a Global Response

Good evening.  I’m very pleased to welcome you to Washington.
 
The past year has witnessed an increased incidence of avian influenza in the world. 
 
Of most concern is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that is endemic in many nations and has the potential to mutate, become efficiently transmitted person-to-person, and initiate a global influenza pandemic.
 
During his address to the United Nations and again in his press conference this past Tuesday, President Bush was very clear when he said the United States is taking the possibility of an influenza  pandemic very seriously.
 
While he expressly stated that he was not predicting an outbreak, the President did suggest that all of us in the global community become better prepared to deal with one should it occur. 
 
Being better prepared includes: promoting widespread awareness of the issue; developing the capacity to rapidly report instances of HPAI to animal and human health authorities; and thirdly, the development of medical treatments, vaccines and drugs to prevent and treat a pandemic influenza should it arise.

The emergence of High Path AI in SE Asia and the possibility of a global pandemic is an issue of great concern to all of us.  Your presence here today demonstrates that you recognize the seriousness of the threat we face.
 
As a global community if we fail to act decisively, the repercussions will be significant on many levels. 
 
Outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) have led to human suffering and death as well as severe economic consequences.  It can destroy trade, tourism, commerce, and other activities that rely on international travel.  
 
To help raise the profile of this issue and promote ongoing preparedness efforts, the United States has initiated the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza.
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture soundly supports the partnership’s core principles, which include promoting international cooperation, high-level leadership, support of key multilateral organizations, coordinated allocation of resources, and transparency and information sharing.
 
AI is a complex issue that requires immediate, relevant, cross-sector cooperation within and across nations and economies.   We must proactively prepare to minimize its effects.  Representatives from collective agriculture, human health, trade, foreign affairs, industry, and private sector communities must all be involved.
 
In order to preemptively prevent the spread of this disease we must emphasize the importance of animal health to the success of these efforts. 
 
As OIE Director-General Bernard Vallat has said, “if avian influenza is controlled in animals, the risk of a human pandemic is reduced by thousands of times, and costs much less.”  Transparency and reporting are key enablers in preventing the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza strain, currently circulating in animals.
 
USDA has already taken many actions to prevent the introduction of HPAI into the United States and to ensure preparedness in the event of an outbreak.
 
USDA has conducted extensive AI surveillance in commercial poultry for many years, and will continue to do so.  We are now working with the U.S. Department of Interior and other Federal and state agencies to conduct wild bird surveillance along key flightways. 
 
We have also taken many steps in the area of preparedness. 
 
Like many of our international partners the United States has an ongoing aggressive research program allowing us to consider options for the use of HPAI vaccine on poulty.
 
We at USDA are committed to working closely with international organizations to assist HPAI-affected countries and other neighboring Asian-Pacific countries with disease prevention, management, and eradication activities. 
 
We are sharing expertise in disease surveillance, monitoring, and control.  We greatly appreciate the willingness of countries to be forthcoming and transparent with H5N1 and other avian influenza strain information. This transparency is truly the foundational key to an effective global AI engagement strategy.
 
As I’ve indicated, USDA’s ongoing work on avian influenza involves partnerships and collaboration with many other governmental agencies and domestic and international groups. 
 
And we are eager to expand and enhance those relationships and build new ones and look forward to a productive conference this week with all of you. 
 
We know we cannot prevent the spread of this disease alone. 
 
Clearly, there is a collective need to ensure effective surveillance, monitoring, control, and preparedness programs for avian influenza. 
 
We need to identify and commit resources, develop and implement action plans, and coordinate information sharing between countries and across the human and animal health sectors. 
 
To reach this goal, we will need to work together.
 
 I can assure you that USDA is ready, willing, and able to support our collective efforts under this partnership, and I hope you share our commitment. 
 
Thank you very much for your time and your efforts against this significant threat.