“I head the delegation, which arrived to consult with relevant Armenian government officials and international and local organizations to discuss the situation regarding avian influenza,” U.S. Department of State representative Ann Dorcy said at a news conference in Yerevan today. On January 25, a U.S. government inter-agency team visited Armenia as part of a regional trip to learn about the region’s preparations to address avian influenza.
The U.S. government delegation is composed of representatives from the Department of State; U.S. Department of Agriculture; USAID; Department of Defense; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The delegation met with senior officials and experts from the Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Education and with representatives from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization, Nork Infectious Disease Hospital, and Yerevan’s Central Veterinary Laboratory. Discussions focused on Armenia’s preparedness to fight avian influenza, and how the U.S. government can assist as part of a broader international effort. The delegation also has visited Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Avian influenza is a global threat that does not respect national boundaries. No country is immune, and every country has a responsibility to be prepared. The United States government is actively engaged with foreign partners around the world to combat this threat by assisting with training personnel, expanding surveillance, developing preparedness plans, detecting and containing avian influenza outbreaks, and increasing government and public awareness of avian influenza. The U.S. government is also providing supplies such as personal protective equipment, test primers, and an adviser to assist the government in its preparedness and response plan in response to government requests.
«The Armenian government is working in this direction,» Ms. Dorcy said expressing hope that the South Caucasian states will unite effort in combating the virus, since no single state can do it alone. She also informed that an American specialist, who will assist in elaborating the national program for combating bird flu will arrive in Armenia in the near future.
