Avian Influenza and the United Nations Environment Programme

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with its Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the related African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) are launching a campaign to reverse the public perception, often supported by inaccurate media coverage, that migratory birds are responsible for the spread of avian influenza. These organisations are convening a two-day meeting of experts to be held in Nairobi at the UNEP headquarters on April 10-11 2006. The meeting will aim to deliver scientific advice to governments by investigating the root causes of the spread of the bird flu and identifying solutions for its containment.

According to the article, by solely focusing on bird migration as the cause of the spread of avian flu, other mechanisms and paths for the contamination, such as development and unsustainable agricultural practices, are being underestimated or ignored. According to Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary of the Convention, "[t]he proximity of migratory birds to poultry is the outcome of incorrect planning and development paths, which have caused the sharing of important habitats for migratory birds - like wetlands - between wildlife and farms, with the obvious consequences we are now experiencing."

UNEP is concerned with the current solutions proposed to contain the pandemic. While the ‘quick fix’ of culling wild birds, vaccines, quarantine, and antivirals may work to contain the spread, it is seen as the wrong approach to dealing with bird flu. According to UNEP, the international community should be focusing on the ecological, social and economic causes of the spread of bird flu as a way to find effective solutions to the containment of the disease.

The Convention has been tasked by UNEP to create an early warning system to identify areas which will need to be alerted for a possible outbreak. The system will analyse and study areas of possible contact between migratory birds and poultry, thus providing a detailed account of regions which will need to plan a more balanced approach between growth and protection of the environment.

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Click here for information on the April 10-11 2006 meeting in Nairobi.