The Kuala Lampur Guidelines

 

# 741

Were we not facing a potential pandemic, one that could claim the lives of millions worldwide, I'd much prefer to be writing a satiric column. One that exposed the world's foibles, was dripping with sarcasm, and one that hopefully would be occasionally funny.

 

Alas, Avian Flu is far too serious a subject, and besides, my American-centric sense of irony would probably be lost on many of my International readers.  So I restrain myself (it isn't easy!), and try to maintain a sense of decorum.

 

Some days, though, I regret my choice.  There are so many easy shots I could take.

 

This article, which appeared yesterday on Mongolia-Web.Com, would be perfect fodder for such a column.

 

 

Mongolia pledges to use new standards in case of health emergency

Written by Ulaanbaatar correspondent

Monday, 07 May 2007

 

Mongolia has signed-on to an international set of standards for bringing information and help to its citizens during a health crisis. 

 

Meeting May 4 and 5, twenty countries, including Mongolia, met in Kuala Lumpur to create a set of operating standards in case of a national or international epidemic or health crisis. The meeting was organized by UNESCO. 

 

In what are being called the “Kuala Lumpur Guidelines,” countries have pledged to act quickly following the outbreak of a health crisis to inform their citizenry about the situation and to disseminate information for citizens to protect themselves and their families. 

 

Much discussion was spent on the varying ways in which peoples of differing cultures respond to receiving information during a crisis.

 

However, the participating countries agreed that key to communicating with their citizens during a health crisis is the need to have, “a clear and authoritative communication, transparent and credible governance, communication plan, cross-boundary coordination, monitoring and surveillance system, educating the public and collaborative training initiatives,” according to the final memo. 

 

Countries participating included Iran, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Poland, Hungary, Madagascar, Mali, Ethiopia, China, India, Chile, France, Turkey, Sudan, the Philippines, Jordan and Malaysia. 

 

The concept is, of course, laudable.  Transparent and credible governance is a worthy goal, particularly when the world faces threats such as Avian Influenza, SARS, AIDS, and XDR-TB. 

 

But a look at the signatories to this agreement make one doubt just how seriously the participants take this pledge. 

 

China hasn't released human H5N1 virus samples to the international community in more than a year.  They delayed informing the world that they had a SARS outbreak in 2003 for months, and as recently as yesterday, officials were denying they are having an outbreak of a mysterious swine disease, despite lurid pictures of dying hogs being broadcast on Hong Kong television.

 

Indonesia has withheld bird flu virus samples since late last year, and their reporting of cases over the past few months has been inconsistent at best.  We get reports of suspected cases in their media, and then no official follow up. 

 

Despite rumors to the contrary, and published reports that they have culled more than a million chickens, Iran continues to insist they have no bird flu in their country.  Perhaps that's true.  But the news in that country is tightly controlled, and we have no way of knowing.

 

These three countries alone make up nearly 25% of the world's population.   All three are `high risk' areas for diseases such as avian flu.   And the silence from these countries is deafening.

 

I'd like to believe it when these countries say all is quiet; to `move along, there's nothing to see here'.  But their record for transparency in the past precludes such trust.

 

These aren't the only countries that inspire doubts, but they are the most egregious of the lot.  Exactly what is going on in places like India, Turkey, and South Korea is largely unknown.

 

While I have hopes that the American government will do a better job, if and when Avian flu comes to our shores, we haven't been put to that test yet.   The jury is still out on that one.

 

Had the countries of the world been open and honest from the beginning, we'd be much further along in containing bird flu, and we'd have a much better idea of the magnitude of the threat we are facing.   

 

But politics, greed, national pride, and mutual distrust have been the nutrient rich petri dish in which this virus has multiplied and spread.

 

Perhaps the Kuala Lampur Guidelines mark a turning point, and we will begin to see openness and transparency on these issues.  Better late than never, I suppose.

 

But until we begin to see real progress; the release of virus samples, medical records, and the timely reporting of outbreaks,  I'm not particularly optimistic.