The Role of U.S. Agriculture in the Control and Eradication of Avian Influenza: Hearing Before the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition

Original publisher: Washington: U.S. G.P.O.: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2006. LC Number: KF26 .A35 2005n OCLC Number: (OCoLC ... Show synopsis Original publisher: Washington: U.S. G.P.O.: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 2006. LC Number: KF26 .A35 2005n OCLC Number: (OCoLC)74322911 Subject: Avian influenza -- United States -- Prevention. Excerpt: ... 11 In your opinion, is that level of funding adequate in the opinion of each of you? E AVEN Dr. D H. I will address it from an animal health perspec-tive. And indeed, there are some very important items in that strategy on the animal health side that would go a long way to-ward helping to reduce the threat. Of the $ 91.35 million that has been identified for the Department of Agriculture, for example, $ 8 million would be directed toward surveillance and diagnostic activi-ties in wildlife, poultry and swine populations in the affected coun-tries. We would envision placing consultants on a long-term basis in the affected countries, consultants that can provide expertise in diagnostics, in eradication and control efforts, in epidemiology. So working collectively with the international community, with other like-minded countries who recognize the importance of at-tacking this virus at its source, but working through international organizations such as the WHO, FAO and OIE, we think that these resources collectively with those resources made available through the international community can go a long way toward reducing the virus load in those countries and reducing the potential for this to become a pandemic virus. The C. Dr. Gerberding? HAIRMAN ERBERDING Dr. G. As a public health official who has struggled now for many years to try to deal with the problem of seasonal in-fluenza and our vaccine shortages, I looked on these budget pro-posals for pandemic preparedness as amazing days in the history of public health, that we finally can imagine a situation where we could take the vaccine problem off the table, modernize the vaccine, build the production capability and rescue our vaccine manufactur-ers. I also think it is important to recognize t... Hide synopsis