STOCKHOLM, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Swede who is acting director general of the World Health Organization said the upcoming G8 summit is a prime opportunity for world leaders to show they are seriously committed to fighting the spread of diseases, local media reported on Wednesday.

    Dr. Anders Nordstrom told Swedish news agency TT WHO has only collected one-third of the 100 million dollars pledged to the organization in January. That money is to be used to fight bird flu and to prepare for an influenza pandemic.

    Infectious diseases, education, and energy security are on the agenda for the G8 meeting, which opens Saturday in Russia.

    "I'm quite optimistic," said Dr. Anders Nordstrom. "We are now able to have health issues (on the agenda) for the last six, seven years, it's a good sign that there is a political interest."

    A key question is whether statements by G-8 leaders will translate into more money to fight scourges such as bird flu, HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

    Nordstrom said outbreaks of mad cow disease and SARS have helped decision-makers realize that the diseases not only have a human toll -- they hurt the economy, too.

    "The link between disease outbreaks, security and economic development is quite strong on the agenda now," Nordstrom said. Enditem