July 15, 2005

US and other countries gear up against bird flu

US officials at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportedly fear bird flu could spread to the country and said they were taking steps to prepare for that possibility.

A CDC spokesperson reported that the agency had made bird flu a top priority, and had several ongoing efforts to prepare for it, including a US$5.5 million provision for disease surveillance in Asia.

Meanwhile, Panama, Argentina and Australia separately announced their plans to conduct simulation exercises in July, August, and November this year respectively, to evaluate their abilities in responding toward a bird flu outbreak.

Argentina has also invited participants from several neighbouring countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.