October 26, 2005

Australia to give A$8 million against bird flu

Australia would give Pacific Island nations A$8 million over the next four years to help them prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak and other pandemics, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Oct 26.

Howard announced the package before going into the Pacific Islands Forum leaders retreat in the Papua New Guinea town of Madang.

The funds would be used to help strengthen national and regional quarantine systems, infection prevention and control programs, and animal health surveillance systems.

It would thus contribute to the work done by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the WHO, which are helping to help the region prepare for a possible pandemic, Howard added.