Tackling bird flu

As a continental and global communications adviser I believe it is time for more governments, NGOs and Industry to take a more active role in halting the spread of Avian Influenza.

One area worth considering is a message to all children in areas of risk, on every television and understood in every school. "If you touch a bird, wash your hands with soap and water". "Don't touch a dead bird". "Wash your hands before eating", etc.

Children have so far been the most susceptible -- the poor little dears -- a message like this together with continued research in more hi-tech areas is a place to make another stand and help strike back at this virus, which like many predators targets the young.

The campaign can coordinate terrestrial and satellite footprints and be on air relatively quickly, with rollouts to schools following and general support for wider media applications involving wider messages and audiences.

There are too many of them coming -- AIDS, Anthrax, Polio, SARS, Bird Flu... -- for nations not to act collectively on such issues.

GREG WARNER Jakarta