Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 03/05) - A call for more Canadian research dollars to combat potential epidemics abroad was made in Yellowknife , Friday.

Public Health Minister Carolyn Bennet was in the NWT capital for a conference with health professionals and the health minister.

"Germs do not respect borders," Bennet said. "Trouble may only be one plane ride away."

Researchers discovered earlier this month that avian influenza - which has been discovered in domestic bird populations in Canada, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia - could travel between species, raising fears of a global pandemic.

Already, the World Health Organization has uncovered 97 cases of avian influenza in humans in Southeast Asia. Fifty-three of the infections resulted in death.

Bennet said the government should contribute to research into potential vaccines for the disease before they reach Canadian shores.

The Canadian government estimates between 11,000 and 58,000 people could die from a severe outbreak, though those numbers would drop significantly if a vaccine was available.

Bennet said public health officials are concerned over a possible avian flu outbreak. "We are watching (the developments) very closely," she said.

The Canadian government learned from the problems surrounding an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Disorder (SARS) during the summer of 2003, she said.

'Lack of co-operation'

"There was really a lack of co-operation, collaboration and communication," Bennet said.

"People understand I probably would not have my job if not for SARS."

Bennet has been travelling across Canada for the last several months to develop a series of public health objectives - including standardizing medical practices across the country.