Panel of experts

Innovations in Avian Influenza Preparedness

 

November 14, 2007

 Washington DC

Venue: Organization of American States
1889 F. St., N.W.,

Padilha Vidal Room  (Corner 19th and F Street) Washington, D.C. 20006

10: 00 AM to 1:00 PM

The 2006 Santa Cruz Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Development recognized that water is a limited natural resource essential for life, and that access to clean water and to sanitation services is indispensable to health and human dignity, as well as to sustainable development.  

The Inter-American Program for Sustainable Development 2006-2009 encourages institutions to share best practices, disseminate information, and facilitate discussions related to strengthening policy, institutional and legal frameworks, to address water and land resource degradation problems that create the linkages between environmental degradation and health issues.

The OAS General Assembly resolution AVIAN INFLUENZA: INTER-AMERICAN COOPERATION TO MEET A GLOBAL THREAT- 2006 recognized the potential risk a pandemic due to novel influenza viruses, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza, would pose to our societies and citizens with possible severe consequences for animal and human health, the global economy, and stability.  The OAS then resolved to in concert with IICA and PAHO to, (i) affirm member states' commitment to work together in combating avian and pandemic influenza and to identify priority areas for further action and (ii) develop national, sub-regional, and regional avian and pandemic influenza preparedness and response plans. 

Background Paper   | Agenda 

Moderated by Scott Vaughan, Director, Department of Sustainable Development

 

Welcome Remarks – Secretary General José Miguel Insulza

Speakers -- PRESENTATIONS

Expert Panel:  10 minutes each with 5-10 minutes questions

Dr. Richard Lee

"Human Health Implications". Ecology and Environment, Inc.

Dr. Mini Nagendran

"Potential impacts on biodiversity goods and services". US Fish & Wildlife Service 

Dr. Cristina Schneider

“Avian and human pandemic influenza: Addressing the need for integration between health and agriculture”. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Dr. Otavio Oliva

“National Pandemic Preparedness Planning in South America”. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Dr. David Blockstein,

 

"The Cultural, Socio- Economic and Ecological Determinants of Avian Influenza and its Spread". National Council for Science and the Environment  

Andre Medici

“Economic consequences”. Inter American Development Bank (IADB)

Dr. James Butler

 

“Modernizing National Veterinary Services to Address Avian Flu”. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

 

Alfonso Martinez-Fonts

 

"Epidemic planning sessions – focusing on business infrastructure”. U.S. Dept of Homeland Security