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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Irina Dinca, MD, PHD, Mona Constantinescu, MSc, and S. Katherine Farnsworth, MA. Romanian Representative, JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., 13 G. Calinescu, Bucharest, Romania, +4 (021) 231-9687, irina.dinca@jsi.ro

Avian Influenza first appeared in domestic bird populations in Romania in November 2005. In direct response to this issue, the Government of Romania requested USAID support to develop IEC/BCC materials. For this purpose, a Task Force was created. The group was facilitated by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., an implementing partner of USAID/Romania, and consisted of representatives from WHO, Romanian National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, Romanian Ministry of Health, Romanian Ministry of Education, USAID/Romania, and International Orthodox Christian Charities.

The Task Force decided on main messages to be included in IEC/BCC materials. This information was initially addressed to local authorities, after which consistent messages were created that were accessible by rural populations coming in direct contact with birds. Printed IEC/BCC materials were sent to each of the 41 District Public Health Authorities. The first districts to receive materials were from “emergency areas” in the southeastern part of the country. These included the two districts where the first Avian Influenza cases were identified and the neighboring districts.

Prevention efforts have thus been successful, as the situation in Romania as of February 2006 has remained limited to an animal health problem, not a human health problem. The Government of Romania's response to the Avian Influenza situation immediately followed the appearance of the first cases of the H5N1 virus in the country. Collaborative efforts of international stakeholders contributed to the comprehensive response, which WHO experts considered to be on time and appropriate.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how coordinated planning and response efforts led to an appropriate and timely response to the first appearance of the H5N1 Virus in Romania.

Keywords: Behavior Modification, Health Communications

Related Web page: www.jsi.com/romania

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation