The World Bank on Thursday (April 30) made its first disbursement of funds aimed at helping Mexico cope with a deadly flu strain that has shut many of its services and spread around the world reaching near-pandemic status.

The money is part of a US$205 million aid package the World Bank promised Mexico on Sunday. The money is expected to go toward purchases of medicines and to boost testing to fight an outbreak of the H1N1 flu, commonly referred to as the swine flu despite the misleading nature of that name.

The World Bank also said Thursday that it will provide Argentina with US$1.5 million to combat spread of the virus. The World Bank also has offered aid to other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Those funds could be used for medical costs and for airport laser detectors.

The H1N1 flu is thought to be spread primarily through person-to-person contact. The virus originated in pigs, but the World Health Organization said contact with infected pigs hasn't proven to be a method of its transmission.