Pan-African bid to clip bird flu gets funding boost

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

DAKAR (AFP) — A new pan-African initiative to combat bird flu was launched Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, in a breakthrough partnership between the African Union and the European Union.

30 million euros (45 million dollars) of international funding has been pumped into the continent's fight against a disease which recognises no borders.

At least 11 countries are known to be affected by the avian virus, Benin being the latest.

"We are trying to develop a strategic three-year action plan for the control and eventual eradication of the disease," said Dr Olaniran Alabi of the Inter-African Office for Animal Resources (BIRA), which organised the Dakar launch.

"We want to strengthen the surveillance system (...) improve on the public awareness and then improve...