Brisbane to host bird flu talks

October 29, 2005 - 1:46PM

International health experts and disaster management coordinators will discuss the threat of bird flu at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Brisbane next week.

The two day Avian and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response meeting is expected to work out how APEC's 21 member economies - including Australia, Indonesia, the US, Japan and Malaysia - can cooperate in a regional response to bird flu.

Issues including border closures, antiviral drugs and how to maintain essential services during an outbreak are expected to be discussed at the meeting, which begins on Monday.

The bird flu virus has killed more than 60 people in Asia since late 2003.

Experts fear a pandemic that could kill millions across the globe if H5N1 acquires genetic material from a human influenza virus and becomes easily transmittable from one human being to another.

The Prime Minister, John Howard, says Australia is better prepared than probably any other country in the world to deal with any outbreak of avian influenza.

"We have allocated more than $170 million over four years to stockpile anti-viral medicines, boost funding on research, develop possible vaccines, fund border protection measures and provide educational material," said.

"And we have tightened our already strict quarantine measures.

"More money will be made available if necessary, but a critical element in any plan to prevent an outbreak, and deal with one if it occurs, is cooperation between countries and between agencies."

