Strengthening a Coordinated Response to Avian and Pandemic Influenza

Canada is supporting the joint coordination between the World Health Organization (WHO) the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to improve management of the threat of avian influenza and other zoonotic diseases. The mandate of the project is to ensure a comprehensive approach in planning and response to avian and pandemic influenza. Key areas for strategic investment include surveillance information sharing and risk assessment response and assessment in field operations and outbreak communications. Each of these key areas is of common interest to the three organizations and cannot be effectively accomplished by either of these multilateral institutions alone. Canada’s support of these institutions contributes to the global efforts towards preparing a response to avian and pandemic influenza.