Addis Ababa, 30 August 2006-- “With the detection of avian influenza in the African continent, the risk of an influenza pandemic will persist. This potentially catastrophic situation requires strong government leadership for the finalization and timely implementation of national multisectorial preparedness and response plans”.

This caution was delivered on Wednesday by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, in a report to the fifty sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa taking place from 28 August to 1 September in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

“Government response should be within a global partnership that is well coordinated, well resourced with adequate funding, and based on the principle of equity”, Dr Sambo said.

Since the confirmation of the H5N1 virus in Nigeria on 8 February, an increasing number of countries in the African Region have confirmed the infection in birds.

Dr Sambo explained that WHO had responded to this development by providing technical support, guidelines and tools to Member States; established an ad hoc panel of experts to address the issue; initiated a Regional Influenza Laboratory Network for diagnosis of human influenza, and prepared a Regional Preparedness and Response Plan.

The Regional Director told the ministers that as at 7 April 2006, 36 out of the 46 of countries in the region had confirmed the establishment of a multisectoral preparedness and response plan. Also, 40% of Member States have had the plans approved and shared with development partners for resource mobilization.

He also identified a number of constraints needing urgent attention.
“These (constraints) include weak health systems with under-funded health infrastructure often operating in unhygienic conditions; shortage of skilled human resources prepared to deal with increased workload, and a limited number of well- equipped laboratories with the capacity to confirm avian influenza”.

Other challenges are lack of relevant standard operating procedures, weak transport and communication infrastructure, weak general administration and logistics systems, high rates of illiteracy, widespread poverty, and huge economic losses due to disruption of trade.

Dr Sambo outlined concrete measures countries should take to confront the threat. These include: enhancing preparedness and response coordination at the national and regional levels; reducing opportunities for human infection with H5N1; strengthening early warning systems; delaying and containing the spread of influenza at source, and strengthening national health systems.

Others are implementing the health promotion component of national plans; developing and enforcing legislation and policy, and contributing to influenza research.

Dr Sambo’s report to the ministers concludes with a pledge that WHO, in collaboration with other development partners, will to continue to provide countries with guidelines and facilitate the mobilization of resources to undertake recommended actions.

For further information contact:

Technical Contact

Dr Adamou Yada 
Email: kirigiaj [at] afro.who.int

Media contact: 

Samuel T. Ajibola
Tel: + 47 241 39378
In Addis Ababa : 0911 53 23 32
Email: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int