RÍO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, CMC – The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) says countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, have sought to establish an intersectoral commission to prevent and control avian influenza.
PAHO said that this week, representatives from 35 countries met here to establish a regional commission to combat avian influenza in order to strengthen surveillance, prevention, and control of the disease in both animals and humans.
“The meeting took place at a time when the world is experiencing high levels of transmission of the virus among birds and mammals, which poses a potential risk to public health,” PAHO said.
It said participants agreed to create an intersectoral commission to strengthen detection, prevention, and response to zoonotic influenza.
“It is essential to promote this commission under the ‘One Health’ approach to address zoonoses comprehensively,” said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, PAHO’s director at the Department of Prevention, Control and Elimination of Communicable Diseases.
PAHO said the Inter-sectoral Commission for the Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza in the Americas will enable public, animal, and environmental health sectors to exchange updated information on surveillance, epidemiological risk, and evolution of circulating viruses.
PAHO said the Commission is also expected to promote national, subregional, and regional strategies and strengthen coordination.
PAHO said the new Commission will comprise specialists in seasonal influenza, zoonosis, pandemics, epidemiology, and laboratory medicine from ministries of health in the Americas.
PAHO said the meeting will also include veterinary officials, representatives of the environmental sector, and collaborating centers, with PAHO acting as the secretariat.
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