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World Bank urges $ 1 billion to fight bird flu

by Medindia Content Team on Jan 16 2006 9:10 PM

Jim Adams, World Bank Vice-president has urged the world rich countries during a two day international donors conference which took place in Beijing to provide generous funds to fight bird flu as there is an increased need of funds required by economically backward and developing countries to fight bird flu. World Bank estimates that more than $ 1.5 billion is required to fight bird flu which may become a pandemic disease if the bird flu virus H5N1 mutates and becomes a human virus from the current animal virus status.

The European Union agreed to pledge $ 100 million to fight bird flu but said that the money should not be used for stockpiling bird flu drugs or vaccines in a particular region or country but should serve the entire world and mostly should help fight bird flu in poor countries. The meeting also emphasized that control of the animal strain of bird flu is very important and research has to be done on controlling H5N1 bird strain, as the virus is still an animal virus. World Bank has asked for a global collaboration and integration to fight against pandemic bird flu as it is estimated that more than $ 1.5 billion is required to fight bird flu.


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