Malaysia To Host ASEAN Animal Health And Zoonoses Centre

MANILA, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) will be established, with Malaysia as its first host. This was agreed at the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) meeting here Thursday. Zoonoses are diseases that can be transmitted to humans from animals. The centre will coordinate efforts in the control, prevention and eradication of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses, involving ASEAN member states, dialogue partners and international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who heads the Malaysian delegation, in thanking ASEAN member countries for choosing Malaysian to host ACCAHZ said, "Malaysia is proud to be entrusted to lead yet another important regional initiative that will strengthen veterinary and public health cooperation among Southeast Asian countries. "Furthermore, it demonstrates Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair towards realising the ASEAN Community 2015," he said in his speech at the meeting. Ahmad Shabery said animal disease crises, such as the avian flu, had provided a clearer understanding to the international community on the benefits of applying appropriate animal health policies and programmes in order to safeguard public health and ensure food safety. “Our successful track record in handling animal and zoonotic diseases, such as the Nipah Virus Encephalitis, bird flu and rabies, provided the confidence to ASEAN countries for us to manage this centre,” he added. The 37th AMAF meeting is being held over two days from Thursday, involving relevant ministers from all the 10 ASEAN countries, in addition to dialogue partners such as China, Japan, South Korea and India. Meanwhile, Malaysian Veterinary Services acting director-general Dr Kamarudin Md Isa said the centre would also benefit Malaysia's agriculture and health sectors, which gain from the sharing of livestock health and zoonoses information management mechanism that will be developed. "Additionally, it will also be a catalyst for capacity building in veterinary services, especially in managing new emerging diseases," he said. Dr Kamarudin said the Department of Veterinary Services was now upgrading its building in Salak Tinggi, Selangor, that will house the ACCAHZ office. "It has a very strategic location, being only a 30-minute drive away from the country's administrative capital Putrajaya and 15 kilometres from the KL International Airport. This makes it very connected to all the ASEAN capitals and the rest of the world,” he added. -- BERNAMA