USAID increases funding to fight bird flu

A partnership to fight bird flu has just gained a $20 million boost.

The U.S. Agency for International Development committed to provide new funding to its partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization, one that aims to not only eradicate bird flu but also to pre-empt or combat newly emerging diseases at their source.

The assistance will focus on increasing preparedness and response, and enhancing laboratory and surveillance capacities of areas with sporadic outbreaks of bird flu. These include Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Vietnam. The funds will also support regional coordination to ensure the viral disease won’t spread to neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and Myanmar, according to a press release.

The partnership between USAID and FAO has enabled the scientific community to understand diseases better and come up with more effective preventive measures.

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