Originally published November 4 2005
Australian bird flu conference addresses the issue of preparedness
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In Brisbane, world health officials met for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, designed to stimulate discussion about pandemic plans.
HE operation of power stations, water supplies and sewerage systems could be jeopardised if a pandemic struck, a conference in Brisbane on the bird flu crisis has been told.
The fear that essential services staff might be unavailable was part of a wide-ranging discussion at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum about responding to a pandemic.
Representatives from the 21-member economies discussed plans to isolate and fight bird flu outbreaks, and the implications from a pandemic for international trade, tourism, people movements, the transportation of goods, business and commerce.
A senior officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said some APEC economies were worried about mass panic: they wanted the public clearly briefed about the risks of bird flu and the challenges ahead responding to it.
Addressing the conference last night, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said the economic and social cost of a bird flu outbreak among humans depended on how quickly and effectively authorities responded.
"If reporting is slow, if the response is ineffective, then history suggests that an outbreak could quickly become an epidemic, and an epidemic could become a pandemic," he said.
Mr Downer said there was no point being "overly paranoid" about a pandemic occurring, but the message was clear: Be prepared.
He also said Australia was pleased to take a lead role in contributing to regional preparedness.
"The regional stocktake on pandemic preparedness, which was initiated in APEC in late 2004, will be a valuable contribution to gauging progress, identifying gaps in capacity and determining how they can be addressed," Mr Downer said.
Vietnam's Vice Minister of Agriculture Dr Bui Ba Bong said he was there to "bring (the) attention of the world to our country so that we can get.
Vietnam has been hardest hit by the deadly influenza, with more than 60 reported cases since December 2004.
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