In Brief

Bird flu action plan

Governments and United Nations agencies have developed a six-point global action plan to preempt a deadly human pandemic of bird flu, which a World Bank analysis estimates could cost the global economy $800 billion if it occurred. The global plan seeks to control avian influenza in animals and simultaneously limit the threat of a human pandemic. Funding to help countries take preventive measures will be funneled through the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Key components are:

· control at source in birds-improving veterinary services, emergency preparedness and control (including culling, vaccination, and compensation), and helping countries curb avian influenza in animals.

· surveillance-strengthening early detection and rapid response systems for animal and human flu, and enhancing laboratory capacity.

· rapid containment-training for investigation of animal and human cases and clusters, and planning and testing of rapid containment activities.

· pandemic preparedness-building and testing national pandemic preparedness plans, conducting a global response exercise, enhancing health systems, and training clinicians and health managers.

· integrated country plans-developing national plans across all sectors to provide the basis for coordinated technical and financial support.

· communications-factual and transparent communications, in particular risk communication, which is vital to support the other elements.

"Many countries where the disease is endemic have already taken action, but they are overwhelmed by the situation and require urgent assistance," UN Food and Agriculture Organization Assistant Director-General Louise Fresco said recently. "Fighting the disease in animals is key to our success in limiting the threat of a human pandemic."

Digital divide harms growth

Developing countries in Africa and other regions face a competitive disadvantage because their businesses have difficulty accessing the Internet, according to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The Information Economy Report 2005 shows that while in some poor regions the number of Internet users has grown substantially, overall the gap between developed and developing countries remains wide. For example, while 89 percent of enterprises in European Union nations are connected to...