Ministerial Meeting on the Current Poultry Disease Situation
(Summary)

February 2004

On January 28, the Ministerial Meeting on the Current Poultry Disease Situation hosted by Thailand was held in Bangkok. The Japanese delegation, headed by Ambassador Atsushi Tokinoya, consisted of officials & experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The following is a summary of the meeting to prevent the further spread of avian influenza and other infectious diseases.

In addition to Japan and Thailand, there was participation from the United States of America, Republic of Korea (ROK), People's Republic of China, Republic of Indonesia, Kingdom of Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Malaysia, Republic of Singapore, European Union (EU) (as an observer), World Health Organization (WHO), International Office of Epizooties (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

1. General Overview
   
   At the meeting, the representatives of each country and international organization gave a presentation broadly outlining the measures they have taken since the recent outbreak of bird flu, than discussed and adopted the joint statement of the meeting. After the meeting, Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Surakiart Sathirathai held a joint press conference.
2. Summary
   
   (1) At the meeting, the participating countries and international organizations generally affirmed a common recognition as follows:
   • The bird flu may become an extremely serious issue; therefore, concerted action by the international community is necessary;
   • Prompt and accurate service of information is a critical element for measures against this issue;
   • Assistance by the international community to countries less capable of addressing this issue is necessary (In this relation, the representative of Cambodia expressed appreciation for the cooperation of WHO and other international organizations as well as the one of Japan.)
   (2) The Japanese delegation elaborated the domestic measures taken in response to the cases of the avian influenza in Japan and on the temporary suspention of imports. Japan also called for:
   • Ensuring transparency through prompt service of accurate relevant information;
   • Continuous efforts to enhance the ability of countries less capable of tackling infectious diseases;
   • Closer information exchange among the relevant countries and international organizations.
     Furthermore, the Japanese side introduced some specific examples of international cooperation on measures against infectious diseases that Japan is already providing to the relevant countries and international organizations (see note below). Japan also explained the legitimacy for its suspention of imports that have been put into force.

(Note) Examples of international cooperation provided by Japan

1. Japan has already: made to provide a total of approximately 20 million yen (including transportation expenses, etc.) worth of medical products (100,000 Tamiflu tablets) through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to aid the measures against bird flu in Viet Nam in preventing the transmission of bird flu to human and its treatment (Scheduled to arrive in Viet Nam in early February);
2. By the request of WHO, dispatched an expert from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases has been participating in the WHO investigation team dispatched to Viet Nam;
3. Contributed to the activities conducted by the Western Pacific Regional Office of WHO (WPRO) to enhance measures against infectious diseases in the western Pacific region. (cf. The head of WPRO is Dr. Shigeru Omi, a Japanese medical expert & scholar);
4. Conducted an investigation at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases on samples taken from the patients infected with bird flu in Viet Nam;
5. As part of the Strengthening of National Institute of "Veterinary Research (2000-2005)," a technical cooperation project in Viet Nam, sent experts to provide cooperation related to infectious diseases in domestic animals;
6. As part of the Project of the Japan-Thailand Technical Cooperation on Animal Desease Control in Thailand and Neighboring Countries (December 2001-December 2006)," provided cooperation to improve the diagnostic technology of infectious diseases in domestic animals including poultry
7. As part of the "Bach Mai Hospital Project for Functional Enhancement (January 2000-January 2005)," a technical cooperation project that Japan is currently conducting in Viet Nam placed experts to advice on the prevention of hospital infection at the hospital, the biggest in Hanoi.