October 4, 2005

FAO calls for greater efforts against bird flu
 

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has called for countries to make greater efforts against bird flu.

FAO said that while stockpiling antiviral drugs for humans was important, there was a need to contain the virus in animals, which were the source of infection.

The World Organisation for Animal Health, Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization had earlier planned to hold a bird flu conference in December, with the aim of raising US$102 million for containment efforts against the disease.

However, FAO said the global effort against bird flu remained mostly under-funded although some donor countries have pledged important contributions.

So far, donor countries such as Germany, Switzerland, the US and Japan have pledged US$6 million, US$4 million, US$6 million and US$500,000 respectively. FAO would contribute another US$2 million from its own resources. The World Bank and the European Commission also planned to contribute significant amounts towards curbing bird flu.

While FAO was pleased with the support so far, it said more funding was needed to support affected countries, to stop further poultry infections expected in winter.