"What this event does is it brings together 65-plus countries and international organizations that are concerned about preventing the spread of avian influenza," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack tells reporters.
The H5N1 avian influenza virus has killed or forced the destruction of tens of millions of birds and infected more than 100 people, killing at least 60 in four Asian nations since late 2003. Scientists fear a human pandemic could begin within months.
To track this, scientists must keep testing samples of the virus, especially when people are infected.
Experts hope the two-day State Department meeting, and others scheduled in coming weeks, can help lay this groundwork.
