Asian countries vowed on Wednesday to exchange information, develop new vaccines and enhance investment in their joint efforts to control the spreading epidemic of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Representatives from 16 Asian countries and six international organizations reached the above consensus, which was written in an agreement entitled Kunming Initiative, at a ministerial conference for Asian cooperation on HPAI control held here Wednesday.

Since late 2003, HPAI has hit more than 20 countries and regions, especially those in Asia. The severe cross-border animal disease caused tremendous losses to the poultry industry in the world and Asia in particular and posed great threat to both animal and public health.

HPAI-affected countries and regions shall timely notify international organizations and neighboring countries of the outbreak, its evolvement and control measures, said the initiative, calling for the establishment of a communication mechanism to share epidemic information among the nations and regions.

"Information is the basis for HPAI control," said Teruhide Fujita, World Organization for Animal Health regional representative for Asia.

He said the "positive measures" taken by the Chinese government, including the "free flow of information," very much impressed him and other delegates.

The initiative asked agricultural and other authorities of all nations to strengthen virus exchange, and "particular attention shall be paid to the development of new vaccines, share laboratory resources and conduct epidemiological study."

"Vaccination is one of the effective tools to contain HPAI," said Subhash Morzaria, chief technical adviser of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) regional office for Asia and the Pacific.

China enjoys strong capacity in vaccine development and disease diagnosis, and its help offer in this aspect is highly appreciated by the international community, he said.

China has provided a total of 4.3 tons of HPAI vaccine to Vietnam since Dec. 15 despite tight domestic supply, and set up technology exchange mechanism with Thailand and Vietnam.

"China will continue to offer necessary technology and training program," Chinese Vice Minister of Agriculture Yin Chengjie promised at the meeting.

Financial inputs, especially investment in animal health, should be increased so as to enhance bio-security in poultry farms and live bird markets. Compensation to poultry farmers who suffer from losses will be considered, and mechanism to provide material assistance for disease control including vaccines should be established, according to the initiative.

The document calls for joint efforts to monitor the migratory habits and virus-carrying situation of wild birds.

It also stresses that in poultry development, laws of nature shall be observed, and poultry should be prevented from contact with wild birds.

Source: Xinhua