KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- Governments should devote more effort to eliminate the viruses that cause animal diseases instead of spending huge sums on antiviral drugs to fight a possible human pandemic, the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) said.

OIE Director-General Dr Bernard Vallat said efforts and money spent to strengthen veterinary services were insignificant compared to the enormous economic losses from animal disease outbreaks and possible human pandemics.

"Many countries have already made huge budgetary provisions to combat a possible human pandemic in terms of vaccinations and antiviral drugs.

"When we consider that the pandemic can be avoided if swift actions are taken by eliminating the virus at source, it would not be unwise as a win-win situation to suggest devoting part of these funds to the control of the disease in animals," Vallat said.

He said this in a speech at the opening of the OIE/Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)/World Health Organisation (WHO) Consultation on Avian Influenza and Human Health Meeting here.

The text of the speech was read by OIE Asia Pacific regional representative Dr Teruhide Fujita.

The event was opened by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Also present were Veterinary Services Director-General Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein, Health Ministry disease control director Dr Ramlee Rahmat and WHO Western Pacific regional director Dr Shigeru Omi.

FAO animal health chief Dr Joseph Domenech said Asian countries had given total and strong commitment in fighting the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in birds.

However, he said, the eradication of the virus from the region would not be easy as HPAI was an endemic disease in many countries.

"More investment is essential and a regional approach is needed for better sharing of information and better coordination of prevention and control strategies," he said.-- BERNAMA