What we do

Avian and pandemic influenza

School based avian influenza programme, Lao PDR

Avian influenza, or 'bird flu', is essentially an animal disease. H5N1, the highly pathogenic virus that has caused outbreaks of bird flu in East Asia and the Pacific and in some parts of Europe and Africa, continues to circulate in this region. In some countries of East Asia, it is commonly found throughout the bird population. Over the past several years, H5N1 has caused mortality among pockets of wild fowl and domestic poultry, provoking culling of domestic flocks and generating serious concern among animal health and human health experts.

While H5N1 is different from the virus that causes influenza in humans – generally known as seasonal influenza – it can infect humans who are in close contact with sick or dead birds or their droppings. Although only a tiny fraction of the huge number of people who are in close contact with infected birds have become ill, the disease in humans has been severe in terms of morbidity and mortality. Globally, there have been more 250 confirmed cases of H5N1 in humans and over 150 deaths – with most of the fatalities in Asia. Avoiding infection is critical.

Public fears about bird flu have resulted in a reduced demand for poultry in some affected countries. Effects such as these can have serious implications for sustainability of livelihoods, viability of local economies and possibly the nutritional status of children in affected communities.

Scientists fear that H5N1 could change, or mutate, into a form that could pass easily between people, leading to a global human influenza pandemic that could affect millions of people. Although some scientists believe that a human pandemic is inevitable, no one can predict with any certainty when it might occur or how serious it would be. Governments are responding to the threat of a pandemic through awareness building and planning at many different levels.

Activities

UNICEF is one of many partners in the comprehensive efforts to contain and control the spread of the virus that draws on the expertise of people in all sectors of society: government, civil society, international donors and development organizations, UN agencies and the private sector. As part of the overall UN response, UNICEF and its partners support governments in East Asia and the Pacific to promote:

Behaviour change communication strategies that use radio, television, posters, leaflets, booklets and lesson plans for teachers to spread key messages.
Advocacy and media training, including a public service announcement with film action star Jackie Chan and media workshops for more than 200 journalists.
Pandemic preparedness

Four key messages are promoting to prevent the spread of bird flu

What UNICEF is doing to help prevent the spread of H5N1:

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION

UNICEF, in close cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, has developed messages for the public. These are being broadcast on radio and television, and communicated through print materials such as posters, leaflets, booklets and lesson plans for teachers.

The four key messages that UNICEF and its partners are promoting to prevent the spread of bird flu among birds and to minimize exposure of people to infection are:

1. REPORT

Report unusual sickness or death in poultry, wild birds and other animals to the authorities immediately
Report and seek treatment immediately if you have fever after contact with sick birds

2. SEPARATE

Keep new poultry stock separated from old stock for 2 weeks
Keep all stock separated from exposure to wild birds
Keep poultry stock separated by species
Keep stock away from family living areas
Keep children away from stock
Burn and/or bury dead birds safely

3. WASH

Wash hands often with running water and soap (or ash if soap not available), especially after touching birds or bird droppings and before and after food preparation
Clean clothes, footwear, vehicles and cages with soap or disinfectant

4. COOK

Handle, prepare, and consume poultry safely, making sure that poultry is thoroughly cooked (flesh is no longer pink and eggs are not runny)

Internews/2006/Inbaraj
Participants at a discussion session at the Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia avian influenza training

WORKING WITH THE MEDIA

Media reports about avian influenza can sow panic or they can instill confidence, with enormous consequences for human behaviour. How can the media avoid sensationalism and report accurately and responsibly about avian influenza? How can it influence authorities to prepare for the real possibility of a human influenza pandemic? And how can the media convey key messages that children and adults can protect themselves from the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus by taking certain actions?

UNICEF and its partners are responding to this challenge through a series of media training workshops for television, radio and print journalists in the region, with funding from the Government of Japan.

Workshops are conducted in local language with sessions on access to information, personal safety issues for journalists reporting in ‘hot spot’ areas and guidance on the ethics of covering avian influenza, particularly for children who may face stigma and discrimination if they, or a member of their family, have had bird flu.

Experts present the latest available information about the disease (both on the animal and human health fronts). Journalists learn to work in partnership with veterinary and public health officials to communicate accurate information about avian influenza in simple but powerful messages.

As a direct result of this training, many participants have produced reports on avian influenza that demonstrate a new-found awareness and sensibility.

UNICEF, with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization produced a television public service announcement warning children of the dangers of avian influenza. The PSA, which stars the enormously popular actor and martial arts expert Jackie Chan, cautions children to “stay away from sick and dead birds, especially chickens.”

The one-minute PSA has been broadcast on regional and global television networks, including CNN and Star TV. It has also been aired in many countries of the region, including Cambodia, Viet Nam and Indonesia.

What UNICEF is doing to help people prepare for and respond to a pandemic:

UNICEF country offices are working with governments and other UN agencies to develop pandemic preparedness plans. These plans focus on maintaining programmes that will ensure the health and safety of communities as well as the delivery of essential services and the maintenance of civil order. The UN plans also include provisions for ensuring the health and safety of UN staff and operational continuity of agency offices in order to provide continual assistance to governments in the case of pandemic events.

UNICEF is also collaborating with the World Health Organization on formulating messages on how to prepare for a possible pandemic and reduce personal risk in pandemic situations through key behaviors such as: