U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE • BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS • WWW.STATE.GOV

The U.S. Government is concerned

that the ongoing outbreaks of

avian influenza in birds have the potential to turn into a human influenza pandemic that would have significant 

global health, economic, and social consequences. President Bush has requested $7.1 billion in emergency funding to

immediately begin implementing a

national strategy for pandemic influenza. This funding includes $251 million

to detect and contain outbreaks before

they spread around the world. 

WORLDWIDE PROBLEM 

To date, outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza

have been confirmed among birds in Cambodia, China,

Croatia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Romania,

Russia, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. Japan, Malaysia,

and South Korea have also experienced outbreaks in the

past. More than 60 deaths out of a total of over 120

human cases of the disease have been confirmed in

Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Avian influenza has occasionally spread from bird to

human, but is not easily spread from human to human. A

specific vaccine for humans that is effective against avian

influenza has not yet been approved. Based upon limited

data, the Centers for Disease Control have suggested that

the anti-viral medication Oseltamavir (brand name-Tamiflu)

may be effective in preventing or treating avian influenza. 

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

President Bush announced the International Partnership on

Avian and Pandemic Influenza during the UN General

Assembly in September 2005. The first meeting of the

Partnership took place October 6-7 in Washington, D.C.,

hosted by the U.S. Department of State. 

The meeting involved top foreign

affairs, health and agriculture officials

from 88 countries, as well as representatives from eight international organizations, including the World Health

Organization, the Food and Agricultural

Organization and the World

Organization for Animal Health.

The meeting’s main objective was to

affirm the commitment of participating

countries to work together in combating

avian and pandemic influenza and to

identify priority areas for further action.

Three general topic areas were covered:

surveillance and prevention; preparedness, planning and outreach; and response and containment of avian influenza.

ASSISTANCE FOR AFFECTED COUNTRIES

The United States is implementing the $25 million that the

President earlier signed in an emergency supplemental to prevent and control the spread of avian influenza in Southeast

Asia, in addition to providing more than $13 million in technical assistance and grants to affected countries in Southeast

Asia and to the World Health Organization for influenza pandemic preparedness in the past year.

U.S. DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS

President Bush has released a national strategy that draws on

the combined efforts of government officials and the public

health, medical, veterinary, and law enforcement communities,

as well as the private sector. The strategy is designed to meet

three critical goals: detecting human or animal outbreaks that

occur anywhere in the world; protecting the American people

by stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs while improving

the capacity to produce new vaccines; and preparing to

respond at the federal, state and local levels in the event an

avian or pandemic influenza reaches the United States.

AVIAN INFLUENZA

International Partnership To Meet A Global Threat

“If left unchallenged, this virus could become the first pandemic of the 21st century. We must not allow that to happen. Today

I am announcing a new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza... It is essential we work together, and as

we do so, we will fulfill a moral duty to protect our citizens, and heal the sick, and comfort the afflicted.”

– President George W. Bush

©AP/WWP

GOALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL

PARTNERSHIP

■ Elevate the avian influenza issue on

national agendas

■ Coordinate efforts among donor and

affected nations

■ Mobilize and leverage resources

■ Increase transparency in disease

reporting and the quality of surveillance

■ Build local capacity to identify, contain

and respond to an influenza pandemic

11/3/05