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Swine influenza

USAID Provides Emergency Support to Contain Swine Flu Spread

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As concerns over the spread of swine flu escalate, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced an additional $5 million in emergency support to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to help detect and contain the disease in Mexico. This support is part of USAID's broader commitment to pandemic prevention and preparedness, which has totaled $543 million since 2005. USAID is working closely with UN and civil society partners to adapt and disseminate public health messages to communities and healthcare facilities about swine flu and how to limit disease transmission risks.

Key Takeaways:

  • USAID has committed $543 million to support pandemic prevention and preparedness efforts worldwide since 2005.
  • The agency has provided an additional $5 million to WHO and PAHO to support emergency efforts to detect and contain swine flu in Mexico.
  • USAID is working with UN and civil society partners to adapt and disseminate public health messages to communities and healthcare facilities about swine flu.
  • The agency is also supporting efforts to conduct animal surveillance in Mexico and other parts of Central America to help track transmission of H1N1 in the swine population.
  • USAID has offered to provide 900,000 sets of personal protective equipment from its avian and pandemic influenza stockpile to support ongoing response efforts.
  • The agency is positioned to provide humanitarian aid to countries requiring additional support in the event of a pandemic.
  • WHO declared the ongoing spread of swine flu a public health emergency of international concern on April 25, and raised the level of influenza pandemic alert to Phase 4 on April 27.

Statistics:

  • $543 million: total amount committed by USAID to support pandemic prevention and preparedness efforts worldwide since 2005.
  • $5 million: additional support provided by USAID to WHO and PAHO for emergency efforts to detect and contain swine flu in Mexico.
  • 900,000: number of sets of personal protective equipment offered by USAID from its avian and pandemic influenza stockpile to support ongoing response efforts.
  • 2005: year in which USAID began committing funds to pandemic prevention and preparedness efforts.
  • April 25: date on which WHO declared the ongoing spread of swine flu a public health emergency of international concern.
  • April 27: date on which WHO raised the level of influenza pandemic alert to Phase 4.

Sources:

  • USAID press release, cited in the text.
  • WHO declaration of a public health emergency of international concern, April 25, 2009.
  • WHO raising of the level of influenza pandemic alert to Phase 4, April 27, 2009.
  • USAID's avian and pandemic influenza program, http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/home/News/news_items/avian_influen za.html.
  • USAID's disaster assistance program, http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

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