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BUSAN, Sat. --- Asia-Pacific leaders today announced new measures to fight bird flu as Australia pledged over US$70 million (RM266 million) to help prepare the region for a possible pandemic. “We agreed on collective practical measures, including: strengthening co-operation and technical assistance among Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) economies to limit influenza at its source and prevent human outbreaks”, the leaders said in a statement. The 21 members of the Apec forum pledged to test if the region was ready to cope with a flu pandemic and to fund experts to help countries respond more rapidly should one erupt. |
This would begin with “a desk-top simulation exercise early next year to test regional responses and communication networks”, read the statement published at the Apec summit in the South Korean port of Busan. The leaders also agreed to “enhancing information on border screening procedures and controls to increase transparency and to reduce risk to trade and travelers”. The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed over 60 people and led to the slaughter of millions of poultry since late2003 in Apec countries including Indonesia and China, which have reported new fatalities in the past week.
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Health experts fear the virus could mutate into a form that can be easily transmitted between humans. Australia announced a US$70 million package to combat the virus and other diseases at the two-day summit with 90 per cent of the money to go towards bilateral assistance to the worst-hit countries. “Australia will provide A$100 million (RM280 million) over four years for initiatives to combat the threat of pandemics and other emerging infectious diseases within the region”, Prime Minister John Howard said in a statement. --- AFP.
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