The Seventh International Ministerial Conference on Animal and Pandemic Influenza – 2010 (IMCAPI) opens today in Ha Noi.
David Nabarro, Senior United Nations System Influenza Co-ordinator, said yesterday in a video message sent to the IMCAPI's pre-meeting that priorities should be focused on maintaining and building on the achievements that have already been made to control the H5N1 virus, and on developing institutions, professional capacities and systems in order to cope with challenges of emerging infectious diseases.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong suggested the conference should assess global progress in controlling Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, which is caused by the H5N1 virus, and propose new steps to reduce and potentially eradicate this serious threat.
At the pre-meeting yesterday, participants reviewed recent experiences and achievements of global responses to H5N1 and A/H1N1, defined the scientific rationale for continued attention and identified likely future challenges.
A Ministerial Declaration is expected to be issued by the end of the conference on Wednesday to guide future co-operation and co-ordination among countries and international organisations in 2010 and beyond.
The 3-day event, organised by the Vietnam Government in co-ordination with the European Union and the United States, with the support of the UN System Influenza Co-ordination (UNSIC), has attracted more than 600 representatives from 77 countries world-wide.
Source: VNS