Yukon Kuskokwim Nushagak science

Because our birds fly way south for winter…

Regional action plan for avian flu, Tuesday, July 25, 2006

THE Sectretariat of the Pacific Community has been tasked with drafting an action plan in the event a human case of the avian influenza is reported in the region.

This was resolved at the weeklong meeting in Nadi this week which focuses on the implementation of the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=45318

http://www.spc.int/lrd/index.htm

…The aim of the project is to establish immediate measures to prevent and/or respond to a possible outbreak of avian influenza and pandemic human influenza in the region. The focus will be on building capacity within Pacific Island countries for surveillance and diagnosis of avian influenza, and other emerging diseases, and emergency response planning. Activities will cover both public and animal health….

“In the Pacific, human influenza outbreaks can happen at any time of the year, being more influenced by the flow of people from temperate regions than by the local climate. Many islands are visited by large numbers of tourists and there is the potential for new strains of influenza to be transported back to Pacific Island communities in the Northern and Southern hemispheres….

Although there is no certainty that an influenza pandemic will occur, it is a potentially serious threat that must be addressed. The Pacific is vulnerable to the introduction of pandemic influenza through the movement of people, migratory birds and legal and illegal trade in poultry and poultry products. To respond to such a threat, Pacific Island countries need effective preparedness plans and the resources and capacity to implement them. While some countries have developed, or are in the process of developing preparedness plans, and some surveillance and laboratory capacity, none of these have been tested for a pandemic scenario. The priorities identified by regional governments include improved surveillance, development and testing of plans, strengthened public health measures, and inclusion of more sectors/stakeholders in planning and implementation.”

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As students of this site are aware, avian influenza already exists in the waterfowl and domestic fowl of North America (contrary to the many public services announcements in May and June 2006). It is a natural phenomenon.

http://tinyurl.com/fok3n
Archive Number 20060704.1834, Published Date 04-JUL-2006
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, ostriches - South Africa, H5N2: OIE

“[First of all, this is _not_ the Avian Influenza virus that has infected humans. We have previously seen this virus — Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 (HPAI H5N2) — in North America and Europe. In 1983, a now historic outbreak in Pennsylvania in the USA was attributed to H5N2. Mexico (1994) and Texas, USA (2004) also had North American HPAI H5N2 outbreaks. Italy had HPAI H5N2 in 1997 (Italy also had HPAI H7N1 in turkeys in 1999- 2000). A complete table of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks in poultry by subtype until the end of 2003 is available at

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_03_02/en/

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Do you have an idea for a cutting-edge technology that could protect the environment while growing the economy? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering college professors and their students an opportunity to turn ideas into reality through its P3 (People, Prosperity and the Planet) grants competition. EPA’s P3 is a student design competition for sustainability that is now in its third year. Previous P3 winners have already taken their innovations to the next level - including starting successful businesses, winning additional awards, and providing environmental solutions to developing countries.

The P3 request for ideas will be open from August 15 to December 21, 2006 deadline. Interdisciplinary student teams will compete for $10,000 grants to research and develop their design projects during the 2007-2008 academic year. EPA expects to award approximately 100 new grants from the eligible applications in the summer of 2007.

Then, in spring 2008, all P3 grant recipients will be invited to Washington, D.C., to compete for the P3 Award. The National Academies, advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine, convene a panel to evaluate and recommend the winners of additional funding (up to $75,000) to further develop the design, implement the project in the field, and move it to the marketplace. The judges look for design innovation and technical merit along with relevant social, economic and environmental considerations that are key to sustainable designs. Approximately six P3 Award winners will be chosen by the EPA.

The P3 competition is open to teams of students attending colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational institutions. Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged, including representatives from multiple engineering departments and/or departments of chemistry, architecture, industrial design, economics, policy, social sciences, business, etc. Collaboration and partnerships with colleges and universities outside the United States are permitted, but only U.S. educational institutions are eligible to apply.

http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/apply/index.html

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Published: July 24, 2006 

http://tinyurl.com/rwplc
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