U.S. Government Hands Over Bird Flu
Test Kits to Timor-Leste

DILI, TIMOR-LESTE – The U.S Government, through USAID, handed over to the country’s Avian Influenza rapid response team--composed of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries--a shipment of special kits to help prepare their staff to respond to the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or “bird flu”. The donation consisted of 2,250 personal protective equipment kits, including overalls, gloves, and masks; 20 decontamination kits; and one laboratory specimen collection kit.

The new shipment will mostly be used to train the rapid response team and eventually equip them with “grab and go” bags for emergencies. Some of the kits will also be pre-positioned at the National Hospital.

Early last year, USAID’s Small Grants Program also provided the Government of Timor-Leste with bird flu test kits that have since expired. The new delivery from the U.S. Government was made upon USAID’s request, following close consultation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

In collaboration with the FAO, USAID supported the development of the national plan to combat Avian Influenza in Timor-Leste and continues to support efforts to raise public awareness on the disease.

Bird flu is a viral disease which primarily affects birds, but on rare occasions can also be contracted by humans and other mammals. The virus can spread rapidly though poultry flocks and migratory wild birds are considered to be contributing to its spread around the globe.

While the Avian Influenza virus does not normally infect humans, there have been instances of people getting infected. In most cases, the people infected had been in close contact with infected poultry. To date, 340 human cases have been reported in six countries, most of which are in Asia. More than half (209) of the confirmed cases have been fatal. All human cases have coincided with outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in poultry. The disease is being closely watched and monitored because of its potential to evolve in ways that could start a flu pandemic.