Press Release

The Sixth International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
24-26th October, 2008
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

The Government of Egypt under the leadership of the Egyptian Prime Minister is organizing the Sixth International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza at the International Congress Center in Sharm El-Sheikh during the period of 24-26th Oct, 2008. This conference is organized as a collaboration between the Government of Egypt, the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza and the European Union with the support of the US Government, the European Commission and different organizations within the UN system, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the UN Children’s Fund.
The conference will be a follow up to previous global meetings and conferences on avian influenza that took place in Washington 2005, Beijing 2006, Vienna 2006, Bamako 2006 and New Delhi 2007. It takes place at a significant juncture in our collective endeavor to contain the outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in animals, and to strengthen global preparedness to limit and mitigate the consequences of a potential human influenza pandemic.
The spread of avian influenza and the possibility of a human pandemic continue to pose a serious threat worldwide. The threat is as great today as it was five years ago when the frequency of HPAI outbreaks around the world started to increase. Although no sustained and efficient human-to-human transmission of avian influenza has yet occurred, the potential exists for the H5N1 virus or some other animal influenza virus strain to mutate into a form that would precipitate a human pandemic.
This conference aims to highlight the special needs and requirements of developing and least developed countries that are especially vulnerable to the impact of HPAI outbreaks and an influenza pandemic.
Participants will include ministers and other senior officials from foreign, health, and agriculture ministries around the world, and from regional organizations as well as top officials from the United Nations Organizations.
Participants are expected to describe, to the conference, what has been achieved, and to outline what still needs to be done at national, regional and global levels during 2009. The conference agenda includes a review of best practices and challenges related to control of highly pathogenic avian influenza in animals and to pandemic preparedness and response; and the introduction of a long-term strategy for control of avian influenza and other diseases emerging at the animal-human interface.
It is envisaged that the conference will achieve the following outcomes:

• Encouraging urgent and continued relevant actions by governments, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to build long-term capacity to confront the spread of avian influenza and to prepare for a potential human pandemic.
• Introducing and examining medium-term strategies for control of avian and pandemic influenza and, more broadly, on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases at the animal-human ecosystem interface and considering options for their implementation, and
• Reviewing the use of international funding for HPAI control and pandemic preparedness during 2007-8, and assessing the needs for additional resources in 2009. Countries and donors will have the opportunity to pledge additional funds for support to nations as they seek to confront avian influenza and prepare for a pandemic.

For further information on conference’ agenda, accommodation, transportation, and other arrangements please check regularly the conference’ official website at (http://www.imcapi2008.gov.eg).
For any other information please contact the conference’ secretariat at (info@imcapi2008.gov.eg).