US Boosts Funds for FAO’s Bird Flu Program

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says the United States has pledged another $38 million to support the FAO’s avian influenza control and prevention program.

According to an article on the Medical News Today website, the US is one of the biggest donors to the agency’s program. With the new funding, the US support has reached a total of about $63 million.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a letter to FAO that the contribution will be earmarked for core Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza containment and control activities, including in-country surveillance and early warning, efforts to reduce disease transmission, and communication to increase public awareness and preparedness.

“Avian influenza will probably stay with us for several years to come. The support from the United States will enable FAO to continue and strengthen avian influenza prevention and control campaigns in affected countries,” says FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech.

The money is slated to go into ongoing and new surveillance and response, planning, training, logistics, technical, laboratory, and communication projects and activities in western, eastern and southern Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian sub-continent, Central Asia, central/eastern Europe, Indonesia and Egypt.