Southeast Asian ministers agree action plan on bird flu
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-30 16:37

Southeast Asian farm ministers agreed to boost regional efforts to combat the deadly bird flu virus and stop it from becoming a global health disaster.

In a joint statement after ministerial meetings in the resort city of Tagaytay, south of the Philippine capital, the ministers endorsed an action plan spearheaded by a Malaysian-led task force to prevent the spread of the disease.

The framework covers "eight strategic areas over a period of three years from 2006 to 2008 to prevent, control and eradicate the disease", the ministers said in a joint statement.

The task force was also directed to "formulate detailed action plans for implementation" and identify sources of funding.

"The ministers agreed that the HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) outbreak requires an all-out coordinated regional effort," the statement said.

Regional officials led by the task force will also work closely with UN bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Office to combat the problem.

"The ministers expressed confidence that with financial and political commitment, the disease can be effectively controlled in the region," the statement said.

Malaysia said the blueprint called for the creation of an effective surveillance system to detect the disease, systems to rapidly contain and eradicate the virus and the development of an effective communications system among countries.