January 18, 2006

 

UN, World Bank target US$1.5 billion for bird flu pandemic

 

 

The UN and the World Bank told international donors Wednesday they must prepare for a potential flu pandemic that could kill millions worldwide and result in economic costs far greater than the US$1.5 billion now needed.

 

"The decisions you make today will shape the ways we work together. There's no time to waste. Let's ensure that we are ready," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a taped address on the second day of a funding conference in Beijing.

 

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said China would donate US$10 million to help fight the H5N1 virus in developing countries and to help prepare for a potential pandemic. He also promised that China would work with the international community and be open and forthcoming with information and samples of the virus.

 

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said through a taped message that the bank would make US$500 million available through a loan.

 

The bank and United Nations have estimated up to US$1.5 billion will be needed over the next three years to tackle the threat in developing countries. International donors are expected to make their pledges on Wednesday, and there were hopes the target amount would be exceeded.

 

"Money is not the only answer, but without it nothing can be done," said Dr Lee Jong-wook, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

Bird flu has killed at least 79 people in Asia and Turkey since 2003. Health experts fear it could mutate into a form that spreads easily from person to person, possibly sparking a pandemic that kills millions. So far, most human cases have been traced to contact with infected birds.

 

Turkish officials have recently reported 21 human bird flu cases, including four deaths - the WHO has only confirmed two fatalities so far. The outbreaks have led to a greater urgency for the European Union to help stop the virus from spreading.

 

On Tuesday, EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said the EU had increased its commitment to US$121 million, about US$20 million more than it announced last week. The 25 member states were also expected to pledge about US$120 million in total, he said.

 

"Never before has humankind had a window of opportunity to prepare for the event of a pandemic before it actually happens," he said Wednesday. "And now we know what needs to be done."

 

The funding conference, co-sponsored by the World Bank, European Commission and the Chinese government, follows a global bird flu coordination meeting held two months ago in Geneva, which brought together participants from 100 countries.