Decision on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

DECISION ON THE HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI)
Doc. EX.CL/239 (VIII)

The Executive Council:

1. TAKES NOTE of the Report on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI);

2. RECOGNISES the threat posed by Avian Influenza and the potential socio­economic impact of the disease on the people of Africa, particularly with respect to food security and income generation among the rural poor;

3. ALSO NOTES the efforts made by the Commission through its Inter African Bureau of Animal Resources (IBAR) to coordinate the actions needed to prevent the introduction of the disease onto the African continent;

4. RECOGNIZES the need for African countries to develop appropriate strategies and have adequate means to address the eventual introduction of the disease into the continent;

5. WELCOMES the outcome of the Donor Conference on Avian Influenza held in Beijing, China in January 2006;

6. APPEALS to development partners to assist to further mobilize financial and technical resources to support national and regional efforts aimed at fighting Avian Influenza;

7. ACKNOWLEDGES FAO’s support through AU-IBAR within the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) aiming at awareness creation on the epidemiology of the disease on the continent;

8. ENDORSES the proposal by AU-IBAR to establish in cooperation with the Davis University of California to establish a Research Programme in Africa at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania for capacity building and training on the disease in Member States;

9. URGES Member States to strengthen their capacities in the field of surveillance of animal diseases, Avian Influenza in particular and to avail adequate financial resources to veterinary services;

10. CALLS UPON the Commission through IBAR to assist Member States in developing their capacities and strengthening their national epidemio-surveillance systems for Avian Influenza;

11. REQUESTS the Commission to convene a meeting of experts from Member States as soon as possible in collaboration with the relevant international organizations such as OIE, FAO, WHO, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to collectively develop appropriate strategies to address any eventual introduction of the disease in the Continent.