DAKAR, Feb. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- West African countries on Thursday reached consensus on setting up a mechanism to prevent the spread of bird flu and called for international help.

    A two-day emergency meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Dakar recommended the creation of a regional mechanism to contain the bird flu.

    A committee led by Senegal would be set up to coordinate and steer the regional cooperation in the fight against bird flu, according to a statement released at the end of the meeting attended by government ministers and experts.

    It also said an panel comprising experts from West African countries would be set up to offer advices on the structure and procedures of the mechanism.

    The statement also called on the international community for "urgent contribution" for a regional fund to sustain the running of the mechanism.

    Bernard Vallat, director general of the World Organization for Animal Health, said at the meeting that some 2 billion U.S. dollars of donation were available for countries all over the world, including African countries, to fight the disease.

    The H5N1 bird flu virus has been reported in northern Nigeria and dead birds found in Mauritania and Senegal.

    Experts deem that Africa faces a much more severe threat of thespread of the bird flu virus than Europe or Asia due to close contacts between humans and birds, and to poor health infrastructure on the continent.

    Many African countries have taken measures including banning import of poultry products from those countries affected with the bird flu, so as to prevent the spread of the virus. Enditem