BIRD FLU remains the number one danger facing global public health, the World Health Organisation warned as a five-day conference on issues facing the western Pacific region wrapped up today.

The WHO Western Pacific Region’s 57th annual meeting wound to a close in Auckland amid warnings over avian influenza and rising lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity and cancer.

Earlier this week, WHO acting regional director for the western Pacific Dr Richard Nesbit urged member country delegates to do more to prepare for an outbreak of birdflu, saying no nation would be immune.

The group was also told WHO lacked about half of the funds needed to help countries prepare for and fight bird flu.

WHO spokesman Peter Cordingley said many countries did not have the money or resources to implement full emergency plans.

He said a potential pandemic could spread quickly to remote nations due to the speed of modern transport.

“It will travel at the speed of a 747 jet,'’ Mr Cordingley said.

“We’re asking everybody to take precautions.'’

Dr Nesbit said the meeting had also recognised lifestyle diseases such as obesity, cancer and problems associated with excessive alcohol consumption also had to be “urgently addressed'’.

Member countries undertook to step up their defences against threats such as birdflu and non-communicable diseases.

The meeting endorsed a regional strategy designed to stem the exodus of healthcare workers from poorer countries in the region to more affluent nations.

The gathering of senior health officials heard that, unchecked, the migration could push some of the region’s public health systems to the brink of collapse.

Other issues examined included universal access to HIV/Aids treatment, prevention and control of tuberculosis, and program updates on measles elimination, hepatitis B control and polio eradication, as well as tobacco control, mental health and environmental health.

“We had a very broad agenda this year,'’ Dr Nesbit said.

“I believe that it is a fair reflection of the magnitude of the health problems facing the region and of the determination of our member states to tackle those issues.'’