Bird Flu: Countries Must Share Information Despite Fears of Short-term Losses

According to this article posted online on the United Nations (UN) News Centre, some countries worry that sharing information about avian influenza (avian flu or bird flu) will affect their economies, poultry industry and tourism business. However, the UN System’s Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza David Nabarro, suggests that transparency is the long-term solution for those concerns. The article argues that timely information-sharing is vital in mobilising resources to contain the H5N1 bird flu virus and that while open information sharing may have a negative impact in the short term, in the long term it will result in a trust that will ultimately strengthen these industries.

The article further mentions that avian influenza can be controlled if outbreaks are identified quickly, infected animals are culled, and movement and marketing of poultry are stopped in outbreak areas. Nabarro further stated that such measures can succeed only if strategies are in place to prevent fear of lost livelihood from speedy reporting of the disease. That will happen if communities and animal health authorities work together, the public is informed about risks and the means to reduce them, progress is monitored carefully, and there is swift and adequate financial compensation for culled birds.