Agencies Join Forces to Inform and Educate on Avian Flu and Human Pandemic Risks in the Americas

This press release announces a new push to communicate on the threats of avian influenza, or bird flu, and a possible human pandemic by representatives of international agencies, launched at a July 2006 PAHO meeting. Participants at the meeting - including experts on human health, animal health and communications from United Nations agencies and other partners - endorsed an Inter-Agency Communication Framework for Avian and Pandemic Influenza in the Americas.

"Recent public opinion research in Latin America and the Caribbean shows poor understanding and low public awareness of the risks of avian and pandemic influenza, and widespread skepticism about the likelihood of H5N1 mutating into a new human virus that could spark a pandemic. Few people in the region see the problems as requiring priority attention.

But experts at the meeting agreed that avian influenza could reach the Americas at any time..."

Participants agreed that the best chance for preventing a human influenza pandemic is by controlling the disease at its source - avian flu in birds. They advocate that a key part of this effort consists of effective risk and outbreak communication.



Goals of the regional communication effort include:

• building trust in animal and public health officials;
• working with governments, media and the private sector to bolster communication capacity and encourage transparency;
• disseminating messages to strengthen preparedness and encourage safe individual behaviours; and
• making available free communication tools for use by all.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will coordinate the inter-agency communication task force until the end of 2006.

Click here for a copy of the Inter-Agency Communication Framework for Avian and Pandemic Influenza in the Americas (in PDF format).