Indonesia intends to cough up 61 million U.S. dollars to take the anti-bird flu initiative forward, in 2007. There has been a 6 million increase in the budget for 2007 as compared to the spending allocated in 2006.
According to the head honcho of the National Committee for bird flu control, Bayu Krishnamurthi, the added spending on bird flu control will hopefully infuse renewed thrust to the anti bird flu drive. So far there have been 74 human cases of bird flu, out of which 57 have succumbed to the disease.The chief confirmed that, 28.2 million dollars from the budget allocation and foreign aid will target to combat bird flu onslaught on poultry, 12.4 million dollars for human cases and 1.2 million dollars will go towards the development of preventive program for the groups that are at high-risk. Some part of the fund will seek to improve the research, epidemiological surveillance and public awareness measures.
Source-Medindia
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