In Mozambique last week, the World Bank Africa Avian Influenza Task Force brought together Agriculture/Veterinary, Health and Communications staff from Country Offices throughout Africa to evaluate and plan the operational response to avian influenza on the continent. Partner representatives from ALive, CDC [1], FAO [2], OiE [3], UNSIC [4] and WHO [5] also participated. "So far, a number of African countries have responded to the threat by developing national integrated plans," said Francois Le Gall, the World Bank's Lead Livestock Specialist for Africa and the Chairman of the Africa Avian Influenza Operational Task Force, "but it is essential that all African governments engage in prevention and control activities with the financial and technical support of global partners like the World Bank."

The three day workshop, held June 4-6, focused on operational activities and specific technical issues including surveillance, vaccination, compensation, and lab capacity, and included a simulation exercise that explored the challenges of cross-sectoral cooperation and the importance of integrating the veterinary and health sectors with a communications component for maximum effectiveness. This was the first time that the operational staff of the World Bank Region came together in one place and in such large numbers to discuss Bank-funded avian influenza programs and discussed future Bank involvement on prevention and control of the disease.

Africa had its first outbreak of avian influenza in Nigeria in February 2006, followed by subsequent outbreaks in seven other African countries last year. The virus reappeared in four reported outbreaks in Ghana since April of this year. "The recent outbreaks show the continuing importance of strengthening early detection and rapid response in controlling avian influenza at its animal source and preventing a possible pandemic," said Le Gall.

The poultry sector has been decimated in several countries due to poultry mortality and the culling of infected flocks. The African poultry industry, whose commercial farms feed the growing urban population in many countries, has lost an estimated $60 million, and there has been a sizable impact upon poverty stricken rural Africans who depend upon home-grown poultry for food and income.

There have only been 307 confirmed human cases worldwide (36 in Africa), of which 187 have been fatal. Ok Pannenborg, Senior Health Advisor for the Bank's Africa Region emphasizes the importance of a cross-sectoral approach to avian influenza, noting "If the virus were to mutate such that it could spread sustainably among humans, Africa's relatively weak health systems would face unprecedented challenges."

An influenza pandemic in 1918 killed 40-50 million people worldwide. -World Bank