Bird flu to human was registered in seven countries, children represent almost half of the registered cases

Reporting sick or dead birds to the local authorities; keeping birds away from children and living areas; washing your hands often with soap and water to kill and remove the virus; eating only fully-cooked poultry are the main conditions to prevent avian influenza, UNICEF said, concerned by the fact that the majority of the victims of this disease are children. „ Children account for nearly half (45 percent) of reported human cases of avian influenza, according to data from six of the seven countries that have confirmed human cases. (Data on children is not available from Vietnam, which has reported 93 human cases),” according to the report presented by the UNICEF in Chisinau. Under the technical leadership of WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF is working closely with governments to arm families with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves and their birds from avian influenza. UNICEF is harnessing its extensive on-the-ground networks to deliver critical life-saving message. In Turkey, where the four resulting deaths from avian influenza were children, UNICEF has activated a 150,000-strong team of volunteers for girls’ education to help spread prevention messages on avian influenza. In Vietnam and Cambodia, an intensive mass media campaign is underway to provide the public with key facts on avian influenza prevention. In Nigeria, UNICEF is working with an existing network of traditional and religious leaders to reach the most remote communities with preventive messages. “While human avian influenza is still rare, the family is the first line of defense against a possible pandemic brought on by this highly mobile threat,” UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said recently. “Outbreaks of avian flu among domestic birds mean that families lose an important source of food and income,” said Veneman. “This can affect children’s health and threaten their access to education. When income drops dramatically, families sometimes can’t afford to send their children to school or pay for essential health services.” David Nabarro, United Nations Systems Influenza Coordinator, said that preventing the spread of avian flu requires making sure that families at risk have both information and economic support. " Preventing pandemic and mitigating current economic losses requires collaboration and commitment from everyone – international organizations, governments, the private sector, the media and local communities," Nabarro said. "Families at risk have the right to expect no less of us." In Moldova, UNICEF is the main agency, appointed by donor organisation, which provides support in the filed of communications to prevent avian pandemic with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. Thus, in December 2005 there were produced and disseminated in Moldova’s localities 125,000 calendars for families, 10,000 posters, 12,000 booklets for specialists of primary medical assistance and 125,000 notes for pupils of higher classes. A video informative spot and a radio one, both in two languages, were broadcasted in December - January by the most important TV information meetings of pupils.