Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on Thursday inaugurated a new Crisis Management Centre (CMC) to fight avian influenza outbreaks and other major animal health or food health-related emergencies.

"The CMC represents a significant leap forward in the FAO's ability to help member nations prevent and cope with disease outbreaks," Diouf said.

Set up in collaboration with the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health and located at the FAO's Rome headquarters, the centre is geared to react quickly to transboundary animal and plant diseases, and emergencies involving plant pests or food safety, according to Diouf.

Supported by advanced communications technology, the centre operates around the clock, seven days a week with a group of up to 15 specialists and veterinarians. Disease information is monitored and updated from around the world continuously.

When a suspected outbreak is reported, the CMC can dispatch experts to any hot-spot in the world within 48 hours.

"One of the lessons the FAO has learned in three years of leading the international fight against Avian Influenza is that speed is of the essence," Diouf said. "Alert must be lightning-quick. Reaction must be immediate in combating a disease which can move, across borders and continents, terrifyingly fast."

"Three years into the avian influenza crisis, the FAO and the international community can draw some satisfaction, and some relief, in the progress made to contain a most deadly menace to the health of animals and humans across the globe," Diouf said.

"But despite the encouraging and very real progress made, it does not mean we can lower our guard," Diouf warned, adding that the disease remained a potent threat in Indonesia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

The United States has provided 5.1 million U.S. dollars and three veterinarians for the centre. Other contributors include Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, China, Greece and Jordan.

Source: Xinhua