Asian ministers agree to fight bird flu
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-30 21:54

The two-day ministerial meeting comes on the heels of an urgent warning from a U.N. health official about the disease's potential to threaten human life.

Dr. David Nabarro of the World Health Organization said Thursday that political leaders must take immediate steps to prevent a human flu pandemic, which could strike if the bird virus mutates into a strain that is both deadly to humans and easily spread among people

Between 5 million and 150 million people could die in a human flu epidemic — the higher figure being likely if governments fail to act now, Nabarro said.

But on Friday the U.N. health agency said it was impossible to estimate just how many people could die from a possible flu pandemic, but added it has warned countries to prepare for a death toll of up to 7.4 million.

"We think that this is the most reasoned position," said World Health Organization spokesman Dick Thompson.

Since 2003, bird flu has swept through poultry populations throughout Asia — leaving at least 65 people dead, mostly in Vietnam and Thailand. Massive culling of sick birds has failed to stop the disease, and regional officials have long complained of a lack of money for testing and vaccinating poultry and for stockpiling medication.

Mozaria said the endorsement of the ASEAN ministers, meeting in the resort town of Tagaytay, about 37 milessouth of Manila, was necessary in order to acquire donor pledges to combat the virus.

The three U.N. agencies hope to convince richer countries in the West to commit at least $250 million to help bird flu affected nations over the next three years, WHO Western Pacific regional director Shigeru Omi told reporters in July. About $150 million is required by the WHO for public health and the remaining $100 million is needed by the FAO and OIE for surveillance and vaccination.

ASEAN comprises Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.