November 30, 2005

Singapore, US to strengthen cooperation against bird flu

Singapore and the US have signed an agreement to co-fund a facility in Singapore to monitor contagious diseases including bird flu, a US embassy official said.

The Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Centre in Singapore was launched in May, and would closely work with other Southeast Asian countries to curb bird flu and other infectious diseases in the region.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said the agreement marked an "important step in building a global network of surveillance" to allow quick detection of outbreaks before they spread.

The centre would also provide advice on dealing with Southeast Asia's bird flu situation, and respond to requests for help from Indonesia and Vietnam.