The United States Addresses the H1N1 Influenza Issue with Asian Partners

May 8, 2009 - Dr. Richard Besser, acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), discussed H1N1 influenza May 7 with participants in a special meeting in Bangkok of the health ministers from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan, and South Korea (ASEAN Plus Three).  Speaking via videoconference from Atlanta, Dr. Besser updated Asian partners on the H1N1 influenza in the United States as well as on the aggressive U.S. public health campaign, led by the CDC, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency, to tackle the situation.

The special meeting of ASEAN Plus Three health ministers was an opportunity for regional governments to assess the H1N1 situation and to coordinate a collective regional response.  Representatives of the World Health Organization and World Bank also joined the session.  U.S. cooperation with these governments, representing a vast geographical region and a population of nearly two billion people, is critical to ongoing global disease surveillance and response efforts.  The CDC’s participation in the conference helped promote information sharing on a critical matter requiring coordinated international responses in a timely and effective manner.  It also helped governments prepare for the 62^nd Annual World Health Assembly in Geneva later this month.

The videoconference, arranged at the request of ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, highlighted the close and growing cooperation between the United States and ASEAN, as well as with other regional partners.  ASEAN has 10 members: Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, acting Deputy Director of CDC, provided a scientific update to ASEAN Plus Three senior public health officials in a May 6 videoconference.

U.S. assistance in multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness was recognized in the Joint Ministerial Statement following the Bangkok ASEAN Plus Three Health Minister’s meeting.  U.S. assistance in pandemic preparedness was also recognized in Secretary General Surin’s speech.  The Chairman’s statement summarizing the results of the Health Ministerial meeting included the continuous implementation of pandemic preparedness plans as the first item listed in the outcomes.

For more information:

• Speech by H.E. Dr Surin Pitsuwan , Secretary-General of ASEAN at the ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Special Meeting on Influenza A (H1N1) Bangkok, 8 May 2009:

  http://www.asean.org/22550.htm

  (association of southeast asian nations)
• Chairman’s Press Statement of the ASEAN+3 Health Ministers’ Special Meeting on Influenza A (H1N1) Bangkok, 8 May 2009:

  http://www.asean.org/22541.htm

  (association of southeast asian nations)

Last revised: March 02, 2010