Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
September 14, 2005

Avian Influenza

The U.S. Government remains concerned that the ongoing foreign outbreaks of
highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in infected poultry has the potential to
turn into a human influenza pandemic that would have significant international
political, economic and social consequences. Since mid-2003, outbreaks of the
H5N1 strain of avian influenza have been confirmed and continue to be detected
among birds in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Thailand,
Vietnam and possibly Laos.


According to the World Health Organization, between December 2003 and August
2005, a total of 112 laboratory-confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian influenza
were reported in Vietnam (90), Thailand (17), Cambodia (4) and Indonesia (1),
resulting in 57 deaths. Most of these human cases resulted from direct contact
with infected poultry or poultry droppings. Only a few cases of possible
limited human-to-human transmissions have been recorded. If the virus develops
the capacity to spread easily from person-to-person, medical professionals warn
that a global influenza pandemic could be set in motion. The virus has prompted
the culling of millions of domestic poultry and wild fowl from affected
countries in Southeast Asia to Russia and Kazakhstan.
The United States is collaborating closely with the World Health Organization,
the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and the World
Organization for Animal Health and a number of foreign governments to address
the situation through planning, greater monitoring and full transparency in
reporting and investigating avian influenza occurrences. These international
partners have led global efforts to encourage countries to heighten
surveillance for outbreaks in poultry and die-offs in migratory birds, and
rapid introduction of containment measures.

The Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services, the
Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development are
coordinating future international response measures on behalf of the White
House with departments and agencies across the federal government. Over the
past year, the Department of Health and Human Services has provided more than
$5.5 million in technical assistance and grants to affected countries in
Southeast Asia and the World Health Organization for influenza pandemic
preparedness. Through its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS is
providing ongoing emergency support with both experts and laboratory reagents.

On May 11, 2005, the President signed an emergency appropriations bill which
contained $25 million to prevent and control the spread of avian influenza. The
Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Agency for International
Development and the Department of Agriculture are implementing plans to deploy
the supplemental funding in Southeast Asia.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is working with international and
private sector partners including the World Health Organization and the Food
and Agricultural Organization to ensure a comprehensive and well-coordinated
response to this epidemic covering both human and animal infection, and has
pre-positioned emergency supplies and other protective equipment in several
Southeast Asian nations to protect both health care and agricultural workers
from exposure to the virus.

The Department of Agriculture, with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum, conducted a Health Task Force Symposium in late July on avian influenza
response and preparedness for a human health emergency. Department of
Agriculture personnel have participated with representatives of the Department
of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for International Development
in assessments of the avian influenza situation and emergency preparedness in
Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, and will soon carry out similar
assessments in Indonesia and China.

The United States continues to support nations in the preparedness, prevention
and containment of the current outbreaks of avian influenza, and is working
collaboratively with international partners to heighten both global and U.S.
readiness should an influenza pandemic occur.

For additional information, please contact:

U.S. Department of State Press Office: 202-647-2492. http://www.state.gov/g/oes
/avianflu/
Also see: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Press Office: 202-690-6343.
www.hhs.gov

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Office: 202-712-4320.
www.aid.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
Press Office: 301-734-7799. www.aphis.usda.gov