AVIAN INFLUENZA

AVIAN INFLUENZA

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 implement a national strategy for pandemic influenza. All involved agencies throughout the U.S. Government are coordinating to maintain up to date U.S. information on pandemic flu and avian influenza at pandemicflu.gov.

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 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 Oseltamivir (brand name: Tamiflu) may be effective in preventing or treating avian influenza. [more]

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs will keep international travelers up to date through their travel fact sheet. Following is information from the State Department and other documents related to the international effort to face the challenge presented by the possibility of an influenza pandemic.

Press Releases and Fact Sheets:



--11/19/05  Fact Sheet: United States Leadership On Avian Influenza
--11/19/05  United States-China Joint Initiative on Avian Influenza
--11/09/05  Responding to the Global Threat of Avian and Pandemic Influenza; Dr. Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs; Remarks to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Washington, DC
--11/08/05  Avian Influenza & Human Pandemic Influenza ; Anthony F. Rock, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State; Remarks to the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza ; Geneva, Switzerland
--11/08/05  Improving Influenza Surveillance and Developing a Rapid Response Plan for Pandemic Influenza; Stewart Simonson, Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness; Statement to the Meeting on Avian Influenza; Geneva, Switzerland
--11/02/05  Avian Influenza: An International Partnership To Meet A Global Threat ; Bureau of Public Affairs; Washington, DC    
--11/01/05  President Outlines Pandemic Influenza Preparations and Response ; President George W. Bush; Remarks at William Natcher Center, National Naval Medical Center; Bethesda, Maryland
--11/01/05  Safeguarding America Against Pandemic Influenza
--10/21/05  Secretary of Health and Human Services, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, and U.S. Agency for International Development on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Avian Influenza
--10/20/05  Countries and International Organizations that Participated in the Senior Officials Meeting, International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
--10/07/05  Discussion of the President's Meeting With Vaccine Industry Representatives on Avian Flu ; Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt; White House, Office of the Press Secretary; Washington, DC
--10/06/05  A Global Threat, a Global Response; Mike Johanns, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza Senior Officials Meeting; Washington, DC
--10/06/05  Background Press Briefing on International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza Senior Officials Meeting
--10/06/05  The Threat of an Avian Influenza Pandemic; Dr. Kent Hill, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Global Health, USAID; Remarks to National Academy of Sciences; Washington, DC
--09/22/05  U.S. Launches International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
--09/14/05  President Addresses UN High-Level Plenary Meeting ; President George W. Bush; UN Headquarters; New York City    
--09/14/05  Fact Sheet: Avian Influenza