Tuesday, October 09, 2004
ASEAN nations agree to bird flu taskforce (2:20 p.m.)
YANGON -- Ministers from 10 Southeast Asian nations have agreed to form a taskforce to help coordinate efforts to tackle bird flu that has killed at least 30 people in the region since December, according to a statement.
Six Asian nations have reported a resurgence of the virus that has killed millions of birds amid fears that the disease has become endemic in the region.
"In view of recent outbreaks of bird flu in some ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries, the ministers agreed to establish a taskforce," according to a statement released Friday after a two-day meeting in Yangon.
The statement said the nations recognized "the potential adverse impact.. on global public health, poultry production, trade and economic development."
The taskforce is expected to meet in Singapore before the end of this year, according to delegates.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (AFP)
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