December 11, 2006

Donor nations pledge nearly US$500 million against bird flu

International donors promised close to US$500 million to combat the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain.

The funding pledge comes on the final day of a three-day conference in the West African country of Mali to address the disease's continuing march across continents.

The US$476 million for the next year adds to about US$600 million in loans and credit still in the pipeline from last year's bird flu conference in Beijing. The US, Canada, the European Commission and Japan were the major donors.

"I'm mighty pleased. This is a very good result," UN influenza coordinator Dr David Nabarro said.

In January, international donors pledged US$1.9 billion--half in donations, half in loans.