Ambassador John E. Lange Leads U.S. Delegation to Bamako Conference on Avian and Pandemic InfluenzaJanuary 3, 2007 - In 2006, the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread from 14 to 55 countries. Against this backdrop, Ambassador John E. Lange, the U.S. Special Representative on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, led the U.S. Delegation to the Fourth International Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza. The U.S. delegation also included Dr. Kent Hill, Assistant Administrator for Global Health at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Dr. Ron DeHaven, Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); and Dr. David Bell, Head of the International Influenza Unit at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The conference, a Ministerial-level meeting organized by the government of Mali, the African Union, and the European Commission, took place in Bamako, the capital of the Republic of Mali, on December 6-8, 2006. Prior to the conference, the U.S. delegation chaired a meeting of the Core Group of the U.S.-initiated International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI) to coordinate objectives for the conference, the purpose of which was to continue worldwide political focus and action on the threat of pandemic influenza, to raise new money, and to demonstrate that donors, including the U.S. government, are meeting their previous funding commitments. The U.S. government made the single-largest new pledge at the Bamako Conference, $100 million dollars (which includes $36 million from HHS), followed by Canada and the European Commission. The announcement in Mali brings the total U.S. Government pledge for international influenza to $434 million. The Honorable Amadou Tourmani Touré, President of Mali, in his remarks to the Conference praised the U.S. Government for its support for the fight against avian and pandemic influenza in Africa and elsewhere. Ambassador John E. Lange, in his remarks to the Conference, noted, "The good news, as you also know, is that the world as a whole is better placed to prevent and combat the disease in animals, and is better prepared for a possible human pandemic, than it was just a year or two ago." He went on to say, "Strengthening capacity is the most urgent action the United States is undertaking. Our efforts are aimed at urgently building systems that can serve long-term purposes in individual countries and within international and regional organizations. And our work and resources are building systems to address not only H5N1, but other highly infectious and zoonotic diseases." Approximately 72 countries sent delegations to Mali, and 14 made new pledges. As a result of the new promises, total pledges for work on international influenza, starting with the Beijing Donors' Conference in January 2006, have surpassed $2.3 billion. In his keynote address, Dr. David Nabarro, United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, discussed the rapid expansion of outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in recent years, and cited three factors for the successful implementation of programs in pandemic preparedness: political leadership and successful alliances among shareholders; resources and the capacity to scale up implementation with effective management systems; and long-term changes in animal husbandry and marketing to reduce the risks of animal and human influenza, including greater action on compensation for farmers after outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. At the end of the conference, delegates approved by consensus the Bamako Declaration. India will host the next large meeting of IPAPI, in October 2007. For more information:
Last revised: August 23, 2007 | 
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