Workshop on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Control Technology for CAREC Countries

The workshop intended to improve the capacity of officials from Central Asian and neighboring countries in controlling highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and to promote cooperation on HPAI prevention and control.

Veterinary experts from CAREC countries visited various sites in the People’s Republic of China, including national reference laboratories, centers involved in outbreak investigation and control, vaccine production plants, and a new farm where 3 million poultry are raised under the highest levels of biosecurity. PRC’s top avian influenza experts, including experts from the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute and the China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, presented lectures to the visiting delegations.

The delegates also met to discuss “Implementing the Almaty Declaration: Experiences and Future Opportunities.” Representatives from CAREC countries made presentations about the current situation of avian influenza in their respective countries. The meeting generated the following proposals for future collaboration:

• establish a regional task force under the CAREC program on communicable disease control comprised of experts from health and agriculture;
• institute a mechanism for quarterly exchange of information;
• support pilot projects on communicable disease control in selected border districts;
• facilitate exchanges among experts of epidemiology, disease control, and laboratory diagnosis; and
• assess the need for regional stockpiling of vaccines and anti-viral medicines.