Remarks by Ambassador John E. Herbst
Avian Flu
United States Government Assistance to Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
December 21, 2005
Deputy Minister Romanchenko, Deputy Minister Berezhnov, members of the press: On December 2, 2005, Ukraine became the 16th country in the world to have a confirmed outbreak of the highly dangerous H5N1 variant of Avian Influenza in domestic poultry.
Avian influenza is a serious threat to Ukraine and the rest of the world. It is a global problem requiring a global response
The U.S. government is partnering with Ukraine in its commendable efforts to contain the outbreak and reduce the likelihood of its spread within the country. Today we are turning over an initial delivery of supplies, consisting of protective clothing, laboratory diagnostic reagents and supplies. Advanced laboratory equipment will be arriving shortly.
Since October, even before the first cases of Avian influenza were detected in Ukraine, representatives of the U.S. Government have met regularly with Ukrainian Government officials to discuss ways of controlling potential outbreaks of Avian Influenza. As a result of these discussions, the U.S. is providing commodities such as the personal protective equipment you see here today. We also are providing technical assistance, including support for an appropriate public education program that will help the Ukrainian Government disseminate information on the risks associated with AI.
Together with the Government of Ukraine we have undertaken an intensive media campaign to educate the public about the safety of Ukrainian poultry. Since November we have developed with the Ministry of Health and the State Veterinary Service public service announcements for radio and television, printed and distributed brochures, contacted press clubs, and aired radio and television programs on Avian Influenza. These programs have informed people on what to do to protect themselves from exposure to the avian virus.
We are actively working on additional ways U.S. technical assistance can help bolster Ukrainian capabilities to detect and control avian influenza outbreaks.
While measures have been taken in Ukraine to contain the spread of AI, we must remain vigilant because migratory birds -- the likely transmitters of this infection -- will return in the spring.
Ukraine has no reports of human fatalities or infection. World-wide, the World Health Organization has confirmed 137 human cases, 70 of them fatal. To date there is no vaccine for humans.
The threat that Avian Flu poses is real. Should it make the jump from a bird virus to a human virus it has the potential to become a world wide pandemic. And so, we must stay on guard, and vigorously control the spread of this dangerous virus.