"Countries must share information - UN

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Bird flu: countries must share information despite fears of short-term losses � UN

30 March 2006 � Some countries worry that sharing information about bird flu will affect their economies, poultry industry and tourism business, but transparency is still the long-term solution for those concerns, a senior United Nations point man in the fight against the disease said today.

�It�s a very tricky issue,� the UN System�s Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza David Nabarro, told UN television in an interview when asked how such fears could be eased. He cited Viet Nam as a good example of the policy that speedy transparency benefits the long-term economic interest.

Timely information-sharing is vital in mobilizing resources to contain the H5N1 bird flu virus which has so far spread out of Asia into Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading to the deaths or culling of more than 150 million birds. Experts fear that in a worst case scenario it could mutate into a deadly human pandemic.

�You can�t reassure a country, a government that if they share information, that it won�t necessarily mean that in the short term at least they will feel some pain, they may have a reduction in tourism, they may have a reduction in the willingness of other countries to buy their poultry,� Mr. Nabarro said.

�But, I�ve talked to the Deputy Prime Minister of Viet Nam, for example, and he said to me: �We know in Viet Nam we have to be open because we want our tourism industry so stay strong in the long term. Tourists will come to our country if they trust us to be honest. (EXCERPT)

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=18004&Cr=bird&Cr1=flu

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: "Countries must share information - UN Posted: March 30 2006 at 5:20pm
	Bird flu: countries must share information despite fears of short-term losses � UN 30 March 2006 � Some countries worry that sharing information about bird flu will affect their economies, poultry industry and tourism business, but transparency is still the long-term solution for those concerns, a senior United Nations point man in the fight against the disease said today. �It�s a very tricky issue,� the UN System�s Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza David Nabarro, told UN television in an interview when asked how such fears could be eased. He cited Viet Nam as a good example of the policy that speedy transparency benefits the long-term economic interest. Timely information-sharing is vital in mobilizing resources to contain the H5N1 bird flu virus which has so far spread out of Asia into Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading to the deaths or culling of more than 150 million birds. Experts fear that in a worst case scenario it could mutate into a deadly human pandemic. �You can�t reassure a country, a government that if they share information, that it won�t necessarily mean that in the short term at least they will feel some pain, they may have a reduction in tourism, they may have a reduction in the willingness of other countries to buy their poultry,� Mr. Nabarro said. �But, I�ve talked to the Deputy Prime Minister of Viet Nam, for example, and he said to me: �We know in Viet Nam we have to be open because we want our tourism industry so stay strong in the long term. Tourists will come to our country if they trust us to be honest. (EXCERPT) http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=18004&Cr=bird&Cr1=flu

RicheeRich Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: February 08 2006 Status: Offline Points: 203	Post Options Post Reply Quote RicheeRich Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 30 2006 at 5:48pm
	Perhaps the above-mentioned "world leader" can do some sharing of his own, and get the WHO to unlock their databases so that researchers far more intelligent than his own cronies, can hone in on this thing before it gets out of control. I know, I had better just shut up and get back in line like a good little citizen should.