USAID and FAO continue joint battle against infectious disease threats

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is renewing its support of FAO’s efforts to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other emerging infectious diseases, the UN agency announced today. USAID’s commitment totals US$26.3 million for the period running from October 2011 to September 2012.

The funds will support continuing FAO technical assistance to strengthen HPAI surveillance and outbreak response capacities in priority countries and regions where the disease still persists and continues to kill people, impact poultry production, and undermine the food security of millions of poor farmers. Priority countries include Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam.

The funding will also be used to strengthen animal health laboratory capacities as well as animal surveillance and response capacities in ‘hot-spot’ regions in order to combat other emerging disease threats, in addition to HPAI.