Avian Influenza

Australia plays a lead role in the international effort to address emerging infectious diseases such as avian and pandemic influenza.

Australia will provide $100 million over four years (2006-2010) for initiatives to combat the threat of pandemics and other emerging infectious diseases in the region. This is in addition to over $52 million committed from other aid program resources since 2003.

The goal of this assistance is to minimise the impact of emerging infectious diseases, including possible pandemics, on the human health and economic development of the Asia-Pacific region, in line with Australia's national interest.

The Pandemics and Emerging Infectious Diseases Strategy outlines the objectives and priorities for Australian development assistance to combat Avian Influenza and other emerging infectious diseases.

AusAID developed the strategy in close consultation with other relevant Australian government departments including Department of Health and Ageing and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Our assistance will help partner countries build and maintain capacities, systems and protocols in four main areas:

planning and preparation
recognition, control and prevention
underlying animal and human health systems
outbreak response (in animals and humans).

Australia's geographic priorities are the countries that lack the capacity to combat a major pandemic, in particular those closest to our shores. AusAID is working closely with others to assist the efforts of countries such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, China, and in the Mekong and Pacific regions.

Initiatives are primarily designed to strengthen the planning, prevention, detection, surveillance, emergency preparedness and response capabilities and underlying systems for animal and human health of developing countries in the region.

Australia's international response

The following fact sheets outline Australia's response to Avian Influenza by country and region:

See also:

Total commitments [PDF 56KB]

Consultants and contractors

Consultants and contractors should be aware of the information regarding Avian Influenza currently available.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has issued a Travel Bulletin which is regularly updated and available from the DFAT website with links to the World Health Organisation website where additional information is available.

Contractors planning to deploy personnel to locations in Asia in the near future are encouraged to keep abreast of developments relating to Avian Influenza.

AusAID expects Consultants and Contractors to have appropriate contingency plans in the event of an outbreak of Avian Influenza in the region.

See Business - Latest News on this website for regular AusAID updates.

Recent media releases

Media releases related to pandemics and other emerging infectious diseases:

See archived media releases for earlier releases on pandemics.

Useful links

The following websites provide further information on Avian Influenza and other emerging infectious diseases:

Above: Chicken markets in Vietnam at the height of the avian flu epidemic [Photo: Lorrie Graham]

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