Lu speaks out on epidemic control at Jakarta seminar via videophone

        Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien, who is also chairwoman of the Democratic Pacific Union, delivered a speech via videophone to the opening of the DPU international conference on bird flu prevention July 14, held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

        The International Symposium on the Challenges and Implication of Avian Influenza on Human Security attracted over 400 participants, including medical experts and professionals from the United States, Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan. Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari and the World Health Organization representative to Indonesia also attended the event.

        Since the threat of SARS first emerged in China in 2003, Taiwan has gained experience dealing with disease spread, and is keen to share this experience with the rest of the world and contribute to human health, said the vice president. In her speech, Lu pointed out that Taiwan is not a member of WHO, and that made it difficult for the island to fight its SARS outbreak.

        "Despite Taiwan's unique situation, as it is not a part of many international organizations, Taiwan has actively participated and contributed to the global efforts to fight infectious diseases," Lu said, adding that the nation has had to go it alone in dealing with epidemics. "Three years ago, Taiwan was severely hurt by the SARS outbreak. Not being a member of the WHO and with limited international ties only complicated Taiwan's effort in combating SARS." She also pointed out that epidemics like avian flu can no longer be viewed as a domestic concern, but require international attention. "The experience of SARS has taught us that every outbreak of infectious disease can easily spread globally if we do not work together." The first aspect of sharing, according to the vice president, is across national borders, especially regarding health issues and diseases today. The second aspect of sharing, she asserted, is to share across professions. "Taiwan's effective preventative measures are primarily overseen by the Council of Agriculture and the Department of Health," she told the audience in her teleconference.

        "In addition, an interagency task force on avian flu is in charge of establishing an emergency control center and coordinating emergency responses to potential outbreaks," Lu said.

        Lu stressed that Taiwan learned an important lesson in dealing with the epidemic, which is that a joint effort by all related departments must be made to exercise effective preventive measures. "Ministries in charge of economic affairs and agriculture need to address the economic impact of the avian flu, while environmental protection and wild life conservation agencies assist in tracking the movement of potentially infected migratory birds," she said.

        "Customs officials and coast guards that typically look for arms and drug smugglers now also must track down smuggled pet birds. Recently, Taiwan's coast guard intercepted smuggled pet birds from China, a large number of which carry the avian flu virus. An interdisciplinary and interagency approach is thus necessary," she told the assembly. "In symposium such as this, it is often tempting to turn it into an academic medical conference, but I encourage our experts and participants in this symposium to take in different perspectives in addressing the avian flu epidemics." The symposium is the fourth international conference held by the DPU, following the West Pacific regional conference in Guatemala March 18, 2005, the Asia Pacific regional conference in Tokyo June 10, 2005, and the DPU West Pacific regional conference in Seoul June 3.

        The vice president said she has high hopes for the DPU in the drive to defend world democracy and promote peace and prosperity, as well as ameliorate living conditions by improving healthcare, cultural preservation efforts and environmental protection around the world.