The U.S. Agency for International Development gave $20 million to combat the spread of H5N1 and emerging pandemic disease threats.  The funding will support an ongoing partnership between the United States and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

FAO said the funds will help strengthen preparedness and response to H5N1 in Southeast Asia and support laboratory and surveillance in hot-spot areas.  Most of the funds will go to support work in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, according to FAO.  These countries continue to experience outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry and in humans, which has resulted in fatalities.  Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, and Myanmar will also receive funding for regional coordination to combat avian influenza and to support surveillance and prevention activities.

“FAO has proven to be a highly effective and innovative leader in responding to the threat posed by emerging zoonotic diseases.  As a prime mover in the promotion of One Health, FAO continues to be instrumental in demonstrating the central importance of collaborative partnership across the sectoral domains of environment, animal health, and human health,” said Dennis Carroll, director of USAID’s Avian Influenza and Other Emerging Threats Unit.   “Through the partnership between USAID and FAO, we look forward to being able to continue to provide a broad range of technical, operational, and commodity support to those countries most vulnerable to the threat of zoonotic diseases,” he said.