K.I.Asia is working to reduce the risk of H5N1 infection in the Greater Mekong Sub-region through USAID’s Global Development Alliance for the Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza

Avian influenza remains a major threat in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), which has witnessed the greatest impact of the deadly disease on humans and poultry. Since the emergence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Vietnam in 2003, the virus has spread across more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, resulted in a 60% fatality rate among confirmed human cases. The disease has caused the death or culling of more than 220 million poultry. H5N1 outbreaks among birds have affected all six GMS countries, with five countries (excluding Myanmar) reporting human infections.

So far, however, the virus appears to be transmissible only from birds. The danger is that this virus may evolve into a form that can be transmitted easily from human to human like some other strains of the influenza virus. Even if a new, evolved form does not maintain its current high fatality rate, the consequences of even a five percent fatality rate would be devastating. Projections based on previous influenza pandemics indicate that the infection would spread rapidly around the world and affect millions of people unless it is quickly and effectively controlled. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), therefore, has made prevention and control of avian influenza a high priority. The Kenan Institute Asia (K.I.Asia) has joined USAID and other partners in the effort to strengthen surveillance, response, and communication measures among governments, the private sector, and civil society.

Global Development Alliance:
Through a USAID project called “Building Partnerships for the Prevention and Control of Avian and Pandemic Influenza,” K.I.Asia is working to coordinate efforts and leverage the ideas, efforts and resources of the public sector with those of the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Utilizing USAID’s Global Development Alliance (GDA) mechanism, K.I.Asia is managing six GDA projects in Thailand and Vietnam focusing on communication, disaster preparedness planning, and human and animal surveillance and response. These projects have brought in additional monetary and in-kind contributions worth more than $830,000 from public and private alliance partners to complement USAID’s support. The six project activities include:

Avian Influenza Campaign
Colgate-Palmolive, in collaboration with the Thai Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Health, is educating children in 24,000 schools throughout Thailand on the benefits and techniques of good hygiene and effective hand washing in the prevention of pandemic and avian influenza. Additionally, Colgate-Palmolive and its alliance partners are organizing regional seminars and best practices contests to build knowledge and develop teaching best practices.

Building Partnerships for the Prevention and Control of Avian and Pandemic Influenza in Thailand
AgriSource, in collaboration with Internews Network, Kasetsart University and 17 agribusiness and media organizations, is enhancing animal and human surveillance and promoting behavioral change among more than 30,000 people in Thailand via delivery of key messages on AI through integrated channels such as the media, workplace education, information toolkits, and related primary activities. Additionally, the key messages are expected to reach 200,000 people indirectly through media broadcasts.

Disaster Preparedness Planning for the Private Sector
Influenza Foundation Thailand (IFT), in collaboration with the Department of