Special report: Global fight against bird flu

    HANOI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam needs some 400 million U.S. dollars for its fights against bird flu, 50 percent of which is expected to come from international donors, a local official said Friday.

    Vietnam has done its utmost in preventing bird flu, and hoped that the international community would grant it stronger assistance, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Department Cao Duc Phat said at a press briefing after the wrap-up meeting of the joint assessment mission for the finalization of "Vietnam Integrated Operational Work Program for Avian and Human Influenza Control."

    International donors have pledged to support the country 46 million U.S. dollars to combat the disease, he said, noting that the Vietnamese government has also poured large amount of money into the fight.

    The government has recently decided to invest more than 1,000 billion Vietnamese dong (VND) (nearly 62.9 million dollars) in its healthcare system, and over 100 billion VND (nearly 6.3 million dollars) in its veterinary one, he said, adding that each locality in the country, on average, also spent one million dollars preventing bird flu early this year.

    Talking about the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting on Avian Influenza slated for early next month in the country, he said the meeting will discuss such issues as socioeconomic effects of the disease, regional and international cooperation on bird flu prevention, and APEC's specific plans on the matter.

    Responding to the appeal of Vietnam, Laurent Msellati, Rural Sector Coordinator, Rural Development and Natural Resources Management of the Word Bank, said "we are still working on cost" to meet Vietnam's demand of 400 million dollars for the fight, under a medium-term plan for the 2006-2010 period. "The bank will help the country access sources of support as well as bank loans," he added

    No new human cases of bird flu infection have been spotted in the country in the last six months, according to the joint assessment mission. Bird flu has hit 93 local people, causing 42 deaths, in 32 cities and provinces since December 2003.

    The country has also detected no bird flu outbreaks among fowls for over four months, it said. Enditem