September 26, 2005

Indonesia to receive US, Japan aid against bird flu

Indonesia would receive aid from the US and Japan against the recent bird flu outbreaks in the country, the government said.

Both countries had offered technical support to Indonesian health officials investigating and monitoring the outbreaks. The aid would also help in improving the ability of Indonesian laboratory workers to detect bird flu faster and more accurately, the government added.

Paramedics at 44 hospitals assigned to handle bird flu cases, would also be trained to improve their capabilities.

Meanwhile, the US had set aside US$25 million in aid for Asian countries hit by bird flu, the government said.

Indonesia's government said Jakarta might receive the most portion of the aid, because the capital needed to optimise its laboratories and widely control the spread of the disease.

Officials would also be invited to the US soon to discuss cases and how to prevent bird flu from spreading, the government said.