Avian and pandemic human influenza policy in South-East Asia : the interface between economic and public health imperatives

Abstract

Whereas countries have adopted similar strategic policies for antiviral stockpiling in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza, their differing economic imperatives are of critical importance. While Thailand’s poultry industry is principally an export economy, Vietnam’s and Indonesia’s are for domestic consumption. The introduction of a poultry vaccination policy in Thailand would have threatened its potential to trade and have a major impact on its economy. Economic imperatives have been critically important in guiding policy formulation in the agriculture sector, however, questions arise regarding how to reconcile agricultural policy with public health policy across the region.