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28 September 2006
New WHO Influenza Pandemic Task Force Meets in Geneva
Thailand, Indonesia, Iraq report new human cases of avian flu
Washington -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Influenza Pandemic Task Force met for the first time September 25 at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, according to a September 26 WHO press release.
The 21-member task force, established to comply with a 2006 World Health Assembly resolution, meets as Thailand, Indonesia and Iraq report new human cases of avian flu, bringing the total number of cases to 250 worldwide, with 147 deaths.
The task force will advise WHO on potential public health issues of international concern related to avian and pandemic influenza, including issues such as determining the appropriate phase of pandemic alert, declaring an influenza pandemic, and implementing the appropriate international response measures to a pandemic.
When the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) come into force June 15, 2007, the task force will disband and an emergency committee will be convened if needed to advise WHO on disease events of international public health importance.
PANDEMIC ADVISERS
"The International Health Regulations are a key element in strengthening global health security,” said Dr. Guenael Rodier, the WHO director responsible for coordinating IHR implementation. (See related article.)
“By bringing this group of experts together and ensuring that we have established effective means of working together when disease outbreaks occur,” Rodier added, “we can ensure that we are getting both the best advice for WHO and building a platform of shared knowledge and ability to respond to rapidly evolving health emergencies worldwide"
The first meeting covered administrative issues such as roles and responsibilities, and set out how meetings would be run. In urgent situations, most future meetings probably will be held via teleconference or videoconference because of the need for a quick response.
Until June 15, 2007, the task force also will serve as an expert advisory group to WHO's Global Influenza Programme (GIP). After that date, two separate groups will meet as needed -- an IHR emergency committee and an expert advisory group to GIP.
Dr. Mike Ryan, director of WHO's Department for Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response, says the task force “will complement other technical partnerships and networks such as the Global Outbreak and Response Network and the Global Influenza Surveillance Network, and ensure that the IHR, when they come into force, move quickly from being simply a legal framework to being a functional support to our efforts to improve global health security.”
HUMAN CASES OF AVIAN INFLUENZA
In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health has confirmed September 27 the country’s 25th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case, which was fatal, was the third detected in 2006 and the third fatality.
The case involved a 59-year-old farmer from Nong Bua Lam Phu province in northeastern Thailand. He developed a fever on July 14, was hospitalized on July 21 and died August 10.
Possible H5N1 infection was suspected when relatives reported the sudden death, in the days before the victim’s symptom onset, of several fighting cocks that the farmer raised. Local veterinary authorities noted several poultry outbreaks of H5N1 in the area.
Of the 25 cases confirmed to date in Thailand, 17 have been fatal. Poultry outbreaks were confirmed in two provinces of Thailand in late July after a lull in outbreaks dating back to November 2005.
In Indonesia, the Ministry of Health confirmed two more cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus September 25. Both cases were fatal.
The first case involved an 11-year-old boy from East Java province. He developed symptoms of fever and cough on September 16, was hospitalized September 18 and died the same day. Poultry in the child's household began dying the month before the onset of his symptoms, and poultry deaths continued in his neighborhood.
The second case was a 9-year-old boy from South Jakarta. He developed a fever and a runny nose September 13, was hospitalized September 20 and died September 22. His history showed recent contact with sick chickens that he kept as pets.
Of 67 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 51 have been fatal.
In Iraq, the Ministry of Health confirmed the third case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza September 19. The 3-year-old boy was hospitalized in Baghdad, Iraq, March 15. His illness was mild and he recovered.
During the outbreak in Iraq, now considered at an end, the country faced problems with shipping specimens for external verification of diagnostic tests. For September 19 case, initial test results were inconclusive, possibly because the sample deteriorated during shipment. Repeated testing using different methods was needed for diagnostic confirmation.
The two cases previously confirmed in Iraq occurred in January 2006. Both were fatal.
For ongoing coverage of the disease and efforts to combat it, see Bird Flu (Avian Influenza).
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
