by Playfuls Staff |
31st March 2007
The U.S. government says it is boosting international support for programs to stop a possible bird flu [more] pandemic.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has announced a three-year, $35.8 million contract for a program called Stamping out Pandemic and Avian Influenza -- or STOP AI -- designed to limit the impact of bird flu around the globe.
The government says STOP AI aims to increase global capacity to contain H5N1 avian influenza in animals, minimizing its spread from animals to humans, and limiting the opportunity for it to develop into a pandemic strain.
"STOP AI will help countries reduce and contain the spread of avian influenza in animals by delivering technical assistance and management services to strengthen the response capacity of developing countries -- which are particularly vulnerable to the threat due to insufficient resources and infrastructure," said Ambassador John E. Lange, the U.S. Special Representative, Avian and Pandemic Influenza.
© 2007 UPI
