November 29, 2005

Bird flu funding boosted for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos

Bird flu-hit countries Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos will get a US$30-million grant to contain the spread of the virus and other infectious diseases, the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ABD) announced on Nov 29.

The bank will provide 77.4 per cent of the funds, with the WHO and the three governments making up the rest. The project will help the three countries develop surveillance and response systems, and improve their ability to implement WHO's new International Health Regulations.

Twenty-six target provinces, including 15 in Vietnam, were chosen for factors such as high infectious disease incidences and the vulnerability of their populations, the ABD said.

The grant would be part of the ADB-backed Greater Mekong Sub-region economic cooperation programme.

Currently, Vietnam accounts for most of the human fatalities from the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus.