Brunei Attends Bird Flu Meet In China

Bandar Seri Begawan - Delegates from Brunei Darussalam, led by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, attended the Ministerial Conference for Asian Cooperation on HPAI Control on December 6 and 7, in Kunming, China.

The conference, initiated by Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, focused on an in-depth analysis of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Asia and the world at large. It is also aimed to explore the approaches to intensify regional cooperation on avian flu prevention and control, a press release stated.

HPAI control is a global issue. Trans-boundary spread of the disease poses a common challenge to international - communities, especially to the Asian region.

It is important to have regional and international cooperation in order to address the issue effectively. China, along with all Asian countries and relevant international organisations such as FAO, OIE, WHO, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, ASEAN Secretariat and other international organisations as well as representatives from Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions of China are working towards closer cooperation on HPAI control.

The "Kunming Initiative" for Asian Cooperation on HPAI Control suggested strengthening cooperation in the areas of joint efforts to contain the spread of HPAI; further intensify exchange and cooperation amongst competent authorities and Asian countries; reinforcing cooperation with regional and international organisations; make unremitting efforts to facilitate the transformation of poultry farming to standard-based poultry keeping and regulate live bird markets while promoting environment protection; and to make common efforts to fuel science progress and innovation in the control of HPAI.

Brunei Darussalam is free from HPAI infection. Brunei's priority is focused on raising the state of readiness by putting in place detection and preventive measures to safeguard human as well as animal health. Appropriate measures are being taken by the government of His Majesty in order to prevent the spread of the disease into the country.

The government has also drawn up a preparedness plan for any eventuality due to HPAI.

Despite all the measures undertaken at national and village level, Brunei remains conscious of the possibility of avian influenza intrusion as it has in other countries.

The main concern is on illegal imports of poultry and fertilised eggs and the impact of wild migratory birds.

Hence, the International Meeting on Avian Influenza with relevant key stakeholders is timely and vital in the exchange of information and experience in areas of ringfencing and addressing the problem at source, as much as practicable, locally and thus preventing the spreading of the virus.

The inter-country collaboration on prevention and control of avian influenza at national level must be done, especially in the area of openness in activating an early warning system, as well as the constraints in the capacity of each country to initiate and to meaningfully participate in inter-country collaboration and cooperation.

Brunei is committed to the Kunming Initiative and supports the inter-country collaboration and cooperation on prevention and control of avian influenza.

As a follow up to the Ministerial Conference for Asian Cooperation on HPAI Control, an International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza will be held on January 17 and 18, 2006 in Beijing, China.

The objective of this Conference is to mobilise further resources both financial and technical, the establishment of the mechanism for financial disbursement and to identify recipient of the aids either individually or under ASEAN.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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