UN Needs $100 million to tackle bird flu threat, has only received one fifth of that amount

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 26 Sep 2005 - 17:00 PDT

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The United Nations needs one hundred million dollars to fight the looming threat of a bird flu pandemic but has only received 20 million. The UN is appealing for more donations to try to stem the possible arrival of a pandemic which could have devastating effects on global health.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (part of UN) desperately needs the money so that it can effect a massive vaccination program of poultry in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. It also needs to set up efficient analysis of virus samples.

The Food and Agriculture Organization said the source of the potential threat to human health has to be contained. Their chief veterinary officer, Joseph Domenech, said stockpiling antiviral drugs to protect humans against a potential pandemic is great, but we need to contain the source i.e. vaccinate birds.

The possibility of a bird flu virus mutation is the biggest threat to global human health today.

(Bird Flu = Avian Influenza)

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor - Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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